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A Pair of Them 


SUNSHINE LIBRARY 


Aunt Hannah and Seth. By James Otis. 

Blind Brother (The). By Homer Greene. 

Captain’s Dog (The). By Louis Hinault. 

Cat and the Candle (The). By Mary F. Leonard. 
Christmas at Deacon Hackett’s. By James Otis. 
Christmas-T ree Scholar. By Frances Bent Dillingham. 
Dear Little Marchioness. 

The Story of a Child’s Faith and Love. 

Dick in the Desert. By James Otis. 

Divided Skates. By Evelyn Raymond. 

Gold Thread (The). By Norman MacLeod, D.D. 

Half a Dozen Thinking Caps. By Mary Leonard. 

How Tommy Saved the Barn. By James Otis. 
Ingleside. By Barbara Yechton. 

J. Cole. By Emma Gellibrand. 

Jessica’s First Prayer. By Hesba Stretton. 

Laddie. By the authoj' of “ Miss Toosey’s Mission.” 
Little Crusaders. By Eva Madden. 

Little Sunshine’s Holiday. By Miss Mulock. 

Little Peter. By Lucas Malet. 

Master Sunshine. By Mrs. C. F. Fraser. 

Miss Toosey’s Mission. By the author of “ Laddie.” 
Musical Journey of Dorothy and Delia. 

By Bradley Gilman. 

Our Uncle, the Major. A Story of 1765. By James Otis. 
Pair of Them (A). By Evelyn Raymond. 

Playground Toni. By Anna Chapin Ray. 

Play Lady (The). By Ella Farman Pratt. 

Prince Prigio. By Andrew Lang. 

Short Cruise (A). By James Otis. 

Smoky Days. By Edward W. Thomson. 

Strawberry Hill. By Mrs. C. F. Fraser. 

Sunbeams and Moonbeams. By Louise R. Baker. 

Two and One. By Charlotte M. Vaile. 

Wreck of the Circus (The). By James Otis. 

Young Boss (The). By Edward W. Thomson. 


THOMAS Y. CROWELL & COMPANY, 

NEW YORK. 









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"WHY, YES. BONNY-GAY! I’VE COME.” See page 77 




NEwYoRk. 

Thomas Y Crowell & Co. 
Publishers. 



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By 




THE LIBWARV of 
CONGRESS, 
Two COPi£8 Rece»veo 

JUL. 3 1901 


COPVRIOMT ENTRY 

OLASS^^t/XXc. N* 

I 7w H *7 -S 

COPY a 


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*•, Copyright, 1901, 
f H'QJiAS Y. CROWELL & CO. 




CONTENTS 

CHAPTER PAGE 

I. Where the Houses are Big i 

II. Where the Houses are Small IS 

HI. How the Pair Met 29 

IV. Max Reappears 44 

V. Mary Jane 6oes Visiting 59 

VI. The Flight and Fright of Mary Jane 78 

VII. On the Way Home 85 

VIII. Confidences 112 

IX. By the Strength of Love 132 

Afterward 150 



A Pair of Them 


CHAPTER I 

WHERE THE HOUSES ARE BIG 

It^s a queer kind of a name, though it suits 
you,” observed the Gray Gentleman, thought- 
fully. “ How came you by it ? ” 

Bonny-Gay flashed the questioner a smile, 
hugged Max closer and replied : 

“ I was born on a Sunday morning. That’s 
how.” 

“ Ah, indeed ? But I don’t quite under- 
stand.” 

“ Don’t you ? Seems easy. Let’s sit down 
here by ' Father George ’ and I’ll explain. If 
I can.” 

The Gray Gentleman was very tall and dig- 
nified, yet he had a habit of doing whatever 
Bonny-Gay asked him. So he now doubled 
himself up and perched on the low curb sur- 


I 


2 


A Pair of Them 


rounding the monument, while the little girl and 
the big black dog dropped easily down beside 
him. Then he leaned his head back against the 
iron railing and gazed reflectively into the face 
of the big bronze lion, just opposite. 

Both the child and the man were fond of the 
wonderful lion, which seemed a mighty guard- 
ian of the beautiful Place, and he, at least, 
knew it to be a world-famous work of art. 
Bonny-Gay loved it as she loved all animals, 
alive or sculptured, and with much the same 
devotion she gave to Max. The park without 
either of these four-footed creatures would have 
seemed strange indeed to her, for they were 
her earliest playmates and remained still her 
dearest. 

Now you can tell me,'' again suggested the 
Gray Gentleman. 

'' It was Easter, too. All the people were 
going to the churches, the bells were ringing, 
the organs playing, and everything just beau- 
tiful. Nurse Nance began it, my mother says. 
* For the child that is born on the Sabbath Day 
is lucky, and bonny, and wise, and gay.' But 
my father says there isn't any ^ luck ' and a 
child like me isn't ‘ wise,' so they had to leave 


Where the Houses are Big • 3 

them out and Fm only Bonny-Gay. That’s 
all.” 

A very satisfactory explanation,” said the 
Gray Gentleman, with one of his rare smiles, 
and laying his hand kindly upon the golden 
curls. “ And now, my dear, one question more. 
In which of these beautiful houses do you live?” 

As he spoke, the stranger’s glance wandered 
all about that aristocratic neighborhood of Mt. 
Vernon Place, to which he had returned after 
many years of absence to make his own home. 
Since he had gone away all the small people 
whom he used to know and love had grown up, 
and he had felt quite lost and lonely, even in 
that familiar scene, till he had chanced to meet 
Bonny-Gay, just one week before. Since then, 
and her ready adoption of himself as a comrade, 
he had had no time for loneliness. She was 
always out in the charming Square, as much a 
part of it as the Washington monument, which 
the little folks called “ Father George,” or the 
bronzes, and the smooth lawns. She seemed 
as bright as the sunshine and almost as well- 
beloved, for the other children flocked about 
her, the keeper consulted her and the keeper’s 
dog followed her like a shadow. 


4 


A Pair of Them 


With a toss of her yellow locks she pointed 
her forefinger westward. 

“ There, in that corner one, all covered by 
vines, with places for the windows cut out, and 
the chimneys all green, and I think it’s the 
prettiest one in the whole place, when it has its 
summer clothes on. Don’t you ? ” 

The Gray Gentleman’s glance followed the 
direction of the pointing finger. 

Yes. It is a very lovely home and a very 
big one. I hope you are not the only child who 
lives in it.” 

But I am. Why?” 

‘^Why what?” 

“ Do you hope it? ” 

You would be lonely, I should think.” 

‘^Lonely? I? Why — ^why — I just never 
have a single minute to myself. There’s my 
thirteen dolls, and the parrot, and the two ca- 
naries, and the aquarium, and my pony, and — 
Oh ! dear ! you can’t guess. That’s why I have 
to come out here — to rest myself.” 

“Ah, so! Well, I should judge that you 
spend the most of your time in ^ resting,’ ” 
commented the other. “ Whenever I come out 
you’re always here.” 


5 


Where the Houses are Big 

Bonny-Gay laughed; so merrily that Max 
lifted his head and licked her cheek. That re- 
minded her of something and she asked: 

“ Have you seen him get his second dinner? 

“ Not even his first! ” 

You haven’t ? How odd!” Bonny-Gay 
shook out her skirts and proceeded to enlighten 
her comrade’s ignorance. She took it for 
granted, or she had done so, that he knew as 
much about things as she herself; but if not, 
why, there was a deal to tell. Max’s history 
first. She began by declaring : 

“ He’s the smartest dog in the world. Ev- 
erybody knows that. He’s lived in the Place 
nine years. That’s one year longer than I have. 
All the children’s big brothers and sisters have 
played with him, same’s we do now. He never 
lets a tramp come near. He never steps on a 
flower bed or lets us. If we forget and go on 
the grass he barks us off. He gets his first din- 
ner at our house. When the clocks strike 
twelve he goes to the gardener and gets his 
basket. Then he walks to our back entrance, 
puts the basket down, stands up on his hind 
feet and pushes his nose against the ’lectric 
bell. That rings up the cook and — she’s a 


6 


A Pair of Them 


man just now — he — she takes the basket and 
puts in some food. Then Max walks down that 
side street, about a square, and sits on the curb 
to eat it. ^ Just like a beggar,' the gardener 
says, ‘ cause he likes to feed his own dog his 
own self.’ I would, too, wouldn’t you? ” 

“ If I owned the ‘ smartest dog in the whole 
world ’ I presume I should.” 

“ Max feels ashamed of it, too ; don’t you, 
dear?” 

The dog replied by dropping his black head 
from Bonny-Gay’s shoulder to the ground and 
by blinking in a deprecating way from that 
lowly position. 

“ Then, in a few minutes, he comes back to 
the gardener with the empty basket and stands 
and wags his tail as if he were the hungriest 
dog that ever was. Then the keeper says: 
' Yes. You may go. Max! ’ And off he trots, 
away down the other way, to some place where 
his master lives and gets a second basket full. 
That he brings back here, and the man puts a 
paper on the ground under the bushes and he 
eats again. Just like folks to their own table, 
that time ; don’t you. Max Doggie, smart 
dogrgie ! ” 


7 


Where the Houses are Big 

The handsome animal shook his wavy fleece 
and sprang up, ready for a frolic and evidently 
aware that he had been the subject of 
discussion. 

“ No, not yet, sir. The best thing hasn’t been 
told. Listen, please, Mr. ” 

The stranger waited a moment, then in- 
quired : 

“Mr. what, Bonny-Gay? I wonder if you 
know my name.” 

“ Not your truly one, but that doesn’t mat- 
ter.” 

“ What do you happen to call me, if you ever 
speak of me when I’m not here ? ” 

The little girl hesitated an instant, then 
frankly answered : 

“ Why, just the ^ Gray Gentleman.’ ’Cause 
you are all gray, you see. Your hair, and your 
moustache, and your eyes, and your clothes, 
and your hat, and your gloves, and — and — 
things.” 

“ Exactly. Trust a child to find an ap- 
propriate nickname. But I like it, little 
one. Go on, about Max and the best thing 
yet.” 

“ That splendid dog has — saved — his — 


8 


A Pair of Them 


master’s life! As true a^true! ” cried Bonny- 
Gay, impressively. 

Indeed ! Wonderful I How- was it ? ” 

“ It was pay-day night and Mr. Weems, 
that’s his name, had a lot of money. And some 
bad men knew it. And they came, do you be- 
lieve, right in the middle of that night, and 
broke a window in Mr. Weems’s house; and 
Max heard them and flew — and flew — ” 

The Gray Gentleman stooped and searched 
for the dog’s wings. 

“ Well, ran, then,” laughed Bonny-Gay, 
“ and he drove them all off and they had re- 
volvers or something and one was shot and a 
policeman caught him and Max was shot and 
the gardener would have been killed — ” 

“ Only he wasn’t,” interrupted somebody, 
coming from behind them. 

So the child paused in her breathless descrip- 
tion of a scene she had often pictured to herself 
and looked up into the face of the hero of the 
affair, himself. 

“ Why, Mr. Weems ! you almost frightened 
me ! and you please tell the rest.” 

But though the gardener smiled upon her he 
nodded his head gravely. 


9 


Where the Houses are Big 

Guess it won’t do for me to think about 
that just now, or any other of our good times, 
old Max! Good fellow, fine fellow! Poor old 
doggie ! It’s going to be as hard on you as on 
me. I’m afraid.” 

By this time Bonny-Gay saw that something 
was amiss. She half-fancied that there were 
tears in the keeper’s eyes, and she always after- 
ward declared that there were tears in his voice. 
As for Max, that sagacious animal sank sud- 
denly upon his haunches, looked sternly into 
his master’s face, and demanded by his earnest, 
startled expression to know what was wrong. 
Something was. He knew that, even more 
positively than did Bonny-Gay. 

It’s an outrageous law. There ought to be 
exceptions to it. All dogs — Well, there’s no 
other dog like Max. Ah ! hum. Old doggie ! ” 

The Gray Gentleman was tempted to ask 
questions, but the little girl was sure to do that ; 
so he waited. In a few minutes she had gotten 
the whole sad story from her old friend, the 
gardener, and her sunny head had gone down 
upon the dog’s black one in a paroxysm of 
grief. 

A moment later it was lifted defiantly 


lO 


A Pair of Them 


“ But he shan’t. He shall not ! Nobody 
shall ever, ^ver take our Max away! Why — 
why — it wouldn’t be the Place without him! 
Why — why — the children — Oh! Nettie! oh! 
Tom! ” and catching sight of a group of play- 
mates Bonny-Gay darted toward them, calling 
as she ran : They’re going to take him away ! 
They’re going to take him away ! ” 

Tom planted his feet wide apart upon the 
smooth path and obstructed her advance. 

“ Take who away, Bonny-Gay ? Where to ? 
When?” 

“ Max ! Our Max ! He can never come here 
any more. This is his last day in our park — 
his very last ! ” and the child flung herself head- 
long upon the shaven grass, for once regardless 
of rules. 

Not so regardless was Max, the trusty. It 
didn’t matter to him that this was Bonny-Gay, 
his best-loved playmate, or that her frantic sor- 
row was all on his account. What he saw was 
his duty and he did it, instantly. From a dis- 
tance the Gray Gentleman watched the dog 
race toward the prostrate little girl and shake 
her short skirts vigorously, loosing them now 
and then to bark at her with equal vigor. 


II 


Where the Houses are Big 

Presently she sprang up and to the footpath, 
and again indulged in a wild embrace of the 
faithful canine. Indeed, he was at once the 
center of an ever-increasing company of small 
people, who seemed to vie with each other in 
attempts to hug his breath away and to outdo 
everybody in the way of fierce indignation. 
Finally, this assembly resolved itself into an ad- 
vancing army, and with Tom and Bonny-Gay 
as leaders — each tightly holding to one of the 
dog's soft ears, as they marched him between 
them — they returned to the spot where the lion 
calmly awaited them, and Tom announced their 
decision : 

** We won't ever let him go. There’s no 
need for you nor the law-men nor nobody to in- 
terfere. This dog belongs to this park; and 
this park belongs to us children; and if any- 
body tries to — tries to — to — do — things — he 
won't never be let! So there! And if he is, 
we'll — we'll augernize; and we’ll get every boy 
and girl in all the streets around to come, too ; 
and we’ll all go march to where the law-men 
live; and we won’t never, never leave go talk- 
ing at them till they take it all back. ’Cause 
Max isn't going to be took. That's the fact, 


il A Pair of Them 

Mr. Weems, and you can just tell them 
so. 

“ Yes,’' cried Nettie, ‘‘ and my big brother 
goes to the law school and he’ll suesan them. 
And my big sister’s friends will help; and if 
he does have to. I’ll never, never — NEVER — 
play in this hateful old park ever again. I will 
not ! ” 

Whew ! ” whistled the Gray Gentleman, 
softly. “ This looks serious. A children’s 
crusade, indeed. Well, that should be irresisti- 
ble.” And this old lover of all little people 
looked admiringly over the group of flushed 
and indignant faces; and at the noble animal 
which was the very center of it, and whose si- 
lent protest was the most eloquent of all. His 
own heart echoed their indignation and he 
quietly resolved to make an effort on their and 
Max’s behalf. 

But the dire, unspoken threats of the chil- 
dren, and the silent resolution of the Gray 
Gentleman, were useless. For when upon the 
next morning the sun rose over the pleasant 
Place, and the monument and the lion began 
to cast their shadows earthward, there was 
ho Max to gambol at their feet, and over the 


Where the Houses are Big 13 

heart of Bonny-Gay had fallen her first real 
grief. 

She was out early, to see if the dreadful 
thing were true; and the Gray Gentleman met 
her and scarcely knew her — without the smiles. 

When he did recognize her he said, hope- 
fully : 

“ We’ll trust it’s all for the best, my dear. 
Besides, you will now have more time for the 
thirteen dolls, and the parrot, and the two ca- 
naries, and — ” 

'' But they — they aren’t Max ! He was the 
only! We loved him so and now he’ll just be 
wasted on strangers! Oh! it’s too bad, too 
bad!” 

The Gray Gentleman clasped the little hand in 
sympathy. 

I am very sorry for your sorrow, Bonny- 
Gay, and yet I can’t believe that Max is 
‘ wasted.’ No good thing ever is. Besides that, 
I have a plan in my head. With your parents’ 
permission, I am going to take you this day to 
visit your twin sister.” 

'' My — twin — sister ! Why there isn’t any. 
Don’t you remember? I told you. I’m the 
only, only one. There never was any other.” 


A Pair of Them 


‘‘ Nevertheless, I am obliged to contradict 
you. Very rude, I know, and I shouldn't do 
so, if I were not so positive of what I claim. I 
hope you’ll love her and I think you will. Af- 
ter breakfast I’ll see you again. Good 
morning.” 

Wth that he walked briskly away and 
Bonny-Gay saw him enter the big gray house 
in the middle of the Place. The house where 
the wooden shutters had always been up, ever 
since she could remember, until just this spring, 
when a few of the windows had been uncov- 
ered to let the sunlight in. 

“ My — twin — sister ! How queer that is ! ” 
mused the watching child. 


CHAPTER II 


WHERE THE HOUSES ARE SMALL 

Mary Jane dropped her crutches on the floor 
and readjusted the baby. He had a most try- 
ing habit of not staying “ put,” and some- 
times the other children slapped him. Mary 
Jane never did that. She merely set him up 
again, gave his cheek a pat or a kiss, and went 
on about her business. 

For, indeed, she was almost the very busiest 
small body in the world. Besides her own 
mother’s five other children there were the 
neighbors’ broods, big and little, with never a 
soul to mind them save their self-constituted 
nurse. 

That very morning Mrs. Bump had paused 
in her washing to look up and exclaim : 

I never did see how the little things do take 
to her! She can do just wonders with them, 
that she can; and I reckon it was about the 

15 


A Pair of Them 


i6 

best thing ever happened to her, that falling out 
the top window, like she did. Seemed to knock 
all the selfishness out of her. Maybe it’s that 
settled in her poor body. Yes, maybe it’s that, 
dear heart. Anyhow, her inside’s all right. 
The Tightest there ever was. If this world was 
just full of Mary Janes, what a grand place 
it would be ! ” 

Then, after a regretful sigh for this beatific 
state of things, the mother thrust her strong 
arms again into the suds, with a splash and 
a rub-a-dub-dub which told plainly enough from 
whom Mary Jane inherited her energy. 

Just then Mrs. Stebbins thrust her head out 
of the window, next door, to remark: 

“ There was fifty-four of them gardens given 
out. My boy’s goin’ to raise cabbages.” 

You don’t say! Now, ain’t that fine? I 
wish I had a son to get one, but all my boys is 
girls, save the baby, and he don’t count. 
Though he’ll grow, won’t he, mother’s lamb? 
He’ll grow just as fast as he can and get a play- 
ground garden, good’s the next one, so he will, 
the precious ! ” chirruped Mrs. Bump, to the 
year-old heir of the house. 

Gah, gah ! ” cooed the baby ; and em- 


Where the Houses are Small 17 

phasized his reply by losing his balance against 
the wall and rolling over on his face. He was 
too fat and too phlegmatic to right himself, so 
Mary Jane hopped back across the narrow 
room and set him up again, laughing as if this 
were the funniest thing she had ever seen. 

Pshaw, daughter ! If I was you and you 
was me. I’d leave him lie that way a spell. He 
don’t ’pear to have the sense the rest of you 
had, no he don’t, the sweet ! Maybe that’s be- 
cause he’s a boy. But even a boy might learn 
something after a while, if he was let. Only 
you’re so right on hand all the time he expects 
you to just about breathe for him, seems.” 

'' Now, mother, now ! And you know he’s 
the biggest, roundest — ” 

“ Pudding-headedest ! ” growled a masculine 
voice, at the narrow doorway. 

Mrs. Bump wheeled round so sharply that 
her rubbing-board fell out of the tub and scared 
the baby, who promptly began to scream. 

Why father! You home? It can’t be din- 
ner-time, yet. What’s happened? Anything 
wrong? ” 

“Is anything ever right?” demanded the 
man, sulkily. 


1 8 A Pair of Them 

Plenty of things,” answered the wife, 
cheerfully, though her heart sank. 

One of the right things is my getting 
kicked out, I s’pose.” 

“Father! you don’t mean it! No.” 

“ I’m not much of a joker, am I ? ” 

“ No. That you’re not. But tell me, man.” 

With a quiver in the usually cheerful voice, 
Mrs. Bump wiped the suds from her arms 
and went to her husband. Laying her hand 
kindly upon his shoulder she demanded, as was 
her right, to know the facts of the disaster that 
had befallen them. 

“ Twon’t take long to tell, woman. The com- 
pany’s cuttin’ down expenses and I was one of 
the expenses lopped off. That’s all.” 

“ Is that all — all, William Bump ? ” 

The question was sternly put and the man 
cowered before it. 

“ It’s the truth, any way. No matter how 
it happened, here I am and no work.” With 
that he dropped his arms upon the window sill 
and his face upon his arms, and lapsed into a 
sullen silence. 

Mrs. Bump caught her breath, whisked 
away a tear that had crept into her eye, and 


Where the Houses are Small 19 

returned to her tub. Mary Jane ceased star- 
ing at her parents, tipped the baby’s home-made 
go-cart on end, rolled him into it, righted the 
awkward vehicle, threw its leather strap over 
her shoulders, called to the children : Come ! ” 
and hopped away upon her crutches. 

Though she paused, for just one second, be- 
side her father and imprinted a hasty kiss upon 
the back of his bent head. A kiss so light it 
seemed he could scarcely have felt it, though it 
was quite sufficient to thrill the man’s soul with 
an added sense of regret and degradation. 

“ We’re off to the park, mother, and I’ve 
taken a loaf with me ! ” she called backward, 
as she clicked out of sight. 

Again the woman idled for a moment, look- 
ing through the open doorway toward the 
small, misshapen figure of her eldest child as 
it swung swiftly forward upon its wooden 
feet.” The baby’s soap-box wagon rattled and 
bumped along behind, bouncing his plump body 
about, and drawn by Mary Jane in the only 
manner possible to her — with a strap across her 
chest. She needed both her hands just then to 
support herself upon her crutches; for her 
lower limbs were useless and swung heavily be- 


20 


A Pair of Them 


tween these crutches — a leaden weight from 
which she never could be free. 

Even so, there were few who could travel as 
rapidly as Mary Jane and this morning she 
was especially eager to get on. Because down 
at the pretty park upon which her own dingy 
street terminated, the children’s Play- 
grounds ” had been opened for the summer and 
the small gardens given out. She was anxious 
to see the planting and seed-sowing, by the tiny 
farmers of this free kindergarten, and down in 
her heart was a faint hope that even to her, a 
girl, might a bit of land be assigned ; where she, 
too, could raise some of the wonderful vegeta- 
bles which would be her very own when the au- 
tumn came and the small crops were harvested. 

The hope was so deep and so intense, that she 
had to stop, turn about, shake up the baby and 
tell him about it. 

You see. Baby Bump, they don’t give ’em 
out to just girls. Only I’m not a regular plain 
kind of girl, Fm a crippley sort. That might 
make a difference. Though there’s Hattie 
Moran, she’s lame, too. Not very lame. Baby, 
only a little lame. She doesn’t have to have 
crutches, she just goes hoppety-pat, hoppety- 


Where the Houses are Small 

pat, easy like. Sophia Guttmacher, she’s a 
hunchback, same’s me, course, but she can 
walk. Besides that she doesn’t want a garden 
and I do. As for Ernest Knabe, his foot’s just 
twisted and that’s all. Then, too, he’s a boy. 
He could have one if he wanted. He’d have to 
dig one, I guess, if it wasn’t for his foot. Oh I 
Baby dear. Do you s’pose I might — I might, 
maybe, get one?” 

Goo, goo,” murmured the infant, encour- 
agingly, and vainly trying to bring his own 
foot within reach of his mouth. 

‘‘Oh! you sweet! You can’t do that, you 
know. You’re far too fat. And I declare, all 
the other children have gone on while I’ve 
stood here just talking to you. That won’t do, 
sir, much as I love you. Sit up, now, there’s 
sister’s little man, and I’ll hurry up.” 

But just then. Baby made a final, desperate 
effort to taste his toes, lost his balance, and 
rolled forward out of his box, as a ball might 
have done. 

Mary Jane, burst into a peal of laughter 
which recalled the other children to the spot 
and she explained between breaths : 

“ The cute little fellow was trying to make 


22 


A. Pair of Them 


‘ huckleberry-bread ’ ; I do believe he was, the 
darling! Well, he’s so round it doesn’t matter 
which way he tumbles, and he’s so soft nothing 
ever hurts him. Does it, precious? ” 

They all lent a hand in setting the infant 
right again. Several holding the soap-box 
level, a couple supporting Mary Jane without 
her crutches which left her arms free to lift and 
replace the dislodged baby. When things were 
once more in order the caravan started onward 
afresh. 

By this time the small, dingy houses border- 
ing the narrow unpaved street had given place 
to open lots and weedy patches, where the sun 
lay warmly and a fresh breeze blew. To the 
right of the open space was a railway embank- 
ment, and on the left there was the cling-clang- 
ing of a mighty steel structure, in process of 
building. The railway and the monster 
“ sheds ” belonged to the same company for 
which William Bump had toiled — when he felt 
inclined — and by which he had just been 
discharged. 

Mary Jane had been accustomed to look for 
him, either along the rails, with the gang that 
seemed always to be replacing old ties ” by 


Where the Houses are Small 23 

new ones ; or else serving the skilled workmen, 
who hammered, hammered, all day long upon 
the great metal girders. As she now caught 
the echo of these strokes a pang shot through 
her loving heart and for a moment her sunny 
face clouded. She need look no more, to either 
right or left, for the blue-shirted figure, which 
had been wont to wave a salutation to her as 
she passed with her brood of nurselings. 

Fortunately, the baby was on hand to banish 
the cloud, which he promptly did in his accus- 
tomed manner — with a slight variation. For 
his small charioteer had not observed a big 
stone in the path, though the loose ricketty 
wheel of the wagon found and struck it 
squarely. This raised the soap-box in front 
and its occupant performed a backward somer- 
sault. 

** Oh ! my sake ! Mary Jane — Mary Jane ! '' 
shrieked several small voices in wild reproach. 

Mary Jane picked up the little one, who 
smiled, unhurt ; and the others helped her shake 
him back to a normal condition and pose. After 
which, the park lying just before them, between 
the railway and the buildings, they scurried into 
it, and over the slope, and around to a sunny 


24 


A Pair of Them 


spot where scores of other little people were 
hard at work or play. 

Hi ! Mary Jane ! Oh, Mary Jane ! 
shouted one and another; and the kind-faced 
teachers who guided the wee ones, also 
nodded their friendly welcome. For well they 
knew that there was no “ assistant ” in the 
whole city who could be as useful to them as this 
same humble little girl from Dingy street. . 

Thirteen, Mary Jane ! Fm thirteen ! Come 
see. Cucumbers ! cried Bobby Saunders, 
dragging her forward so eagerly that the soap- 
box strap slipped up across her throat and 
choked her. But she quickly released herself 
now from her burden, certain that in the midst 
of so many friends no harm could befall her 
darling; and once freed from this incubus, 
she outstripped Bobby in reaching the long 
rows of well-prepared garden plots, wherein as 
yet was never a sign of any growing thing. 

But oh! how soft and rich and brown the 
earth did look I How sweet the fragrance of it 
in Mary Jane’s liature-loving nostrils! And 
how, for once, she longed to be a boy! As 
straight-limbed, as strong, as unhindered at her 
toil, as any of these happy little lads who clus- 


Where the Houses are Small 25 

tered about, each interrupting his neighbor in 
his eagerness for her sympathy and interest. 

“Fifty-one, Mary Jane!” cried Joe Steb- 
bins, pointing proudly to the numbered stick 
at the foot of his plot. “ Cabbages — cabbages ! 
The gardener’s bringing a box of plants this 
minute. Til give you one to bile when they get 
growed. Like that ? ” 

“ Prime I ” answered the girl, her own face 
aglow. 

“ But Fm limas, Mary Jane. Fm Seven. 
Away over here. Fve sowed ’em and to-mor- 
rer Fll hoe ’em, I guess.” 

“ And I guess I wouldn’t till they sprout,” 
laughed she hopping along, at perilous speed, to 
inspect number seven. 

“ Don’t go so fast, Mary Jane ! I can’t keep 
up with you. See. Fm right up front — num- 
ber Three. Fm tomatuses, I am. Like ’em? ” 
demanded Ned Smith, a seven-year old far- 
mer. 

“ Fm potatoes. They’re the best for your 
money,” observed Jimmy O’Brien. “ We’ll 
roast some in the ashes, bime-by. Does the 
baby like ’tatoes ? ” 

“ Don’t he? You just ought to see him eat 


cl6 a Pair of Them 

them — when we have them,” she added, cau- 
tiously. 

‘‘ Oh ! you’ll have ’em, plenty. When I dig 
my crop. Why, I s’pose there’ll be enough in 
my ‘ farm ’ to keep your folks and mine all win- 
ter ; and I might have some to sell on the street,” 
observed Jimmy, casting a speculative glance 
upon the diminutive plot of ground over which 
he was now master. 

“ Might you ; ain’t that splendid ! ” com- 
mented Mary Jane, delightedly. “ Why, if you 
could give us all our potatoes, mother could 
easy wash for the rent and the bread and things. 
My sake! I ’most forgot the baby. Where’s 
he at ? Can you see him ? ” 

“ He’s right in the middle of the sand-heap 
and the teacher has give him a little shovel. 
Say, what you bring him for? this ain’t no day- 
nursery, this ain’t. It’s a playground farm and 
one-year-olds don’t belong.” 

“ Maybe they don’t, but the baby belongs. 
That is if I do,” said the sister stoutly ; “ maybe 
you’ll say next I don’t.” 

“ No, I shan’t say that. Why, what could we 
do without you? And say^ Mary Jane.” 

“ Well, say it quick. The girls are calling 


Where the Houses are Small ay 

me to swing on the Maypole. ’Cause that’s one 
thing I can do without my crutches.” 

“ Well, in a minute. But, say. Sometimes 
I used to let you hoe in my garden, last sum- 
mer. Remember ? ” 

“ Course. I helped you a lot.” 

‘‘ Don’t know about that. But you might 
this year. That is, maybe. If we went part- 
ners, you see ; and if the teacher didn’t get on to 
it ; and if there was a medal give and you let me 
have it, ’cause I’m the one has the farm, course. 
What you say ? ” 

“ I say we couldn’t do such a thing without 
the teacher knowing and I wouldn’t if we could. 
And you’ll never get a medal, you’re too lazy. 
But you’re real gen’rous, too, and I’ll be so glad 
to help. Oh! I love it! I just feel ’s if I could 
put my face right down on that crumbly 
ground and go to sleep. It’s so dear.” 

“ Huh ! If you did I s’pose you’d get ear- 
wigs in your ears and — -and angleworms, and 
— things. Maybe snakes. But I’ll let you,” 
concluded Jimmy, graciously. 

Then they turned around and there was — 
what seemed to the beholders, a veritable small 
angel ! 


28 


A Pair of Them 


Mary Jane was so startled she dropped her 
crutches and, for an instant, quite forgot all 
about the baby. The apparition was clothed in 
white, so soft and fine and transparent that it 
seemed to enwrap her as a cloud ; and above the 
cloud rose a face so lovely and so winning that 
it made Mary Jane’s heart almost stand still in 
ecstasy. 


CHAPTER III 


HOW THE PAIR MET 

But when things cleared a little, it was only 
Bonny-Gay ! and the Gray Gentleman was sup- 
porting Mary Jane without her crutches — 
though she didn’t realize that, at first. After- 
ward she was able to look up into his face and 
smile a welcome, because he and she were al- 
ready quite close friends. 

What had happened was this : the Gray Gen- 
tleman had sent his elderly black “ boy ” with 
a note to the vine-covered house in Mt. Vernon 
Place and had requested the favor of Miss 
Beulah’s company upon a drive, that morning. 
He intended to visit one of the ‘ Playgrounds ’ 
in the south-western part of the city, and he 
felt that the little girl whose society he so 
greatly enjoyed would find much to interest 
her, if she might be with him.” 

To this he had signed a name which was 
29 


30 


A Pair of Them 


quite powerful enough to secure Mrs. Mc- 
Clure’s instant and delighted assent; and she 
had at once returned a very graceful note of 
acceptance by the “ boy.” 

Then at ten o’clock precisely, the Gray Gen- 
tleman’s carriage had gone around for Miss 
McClure,” and she had been lifted into it and 
to a seat beside her friend. A half-hour’s drive 
followed; through streets and avenues which 
Bonny-Gay had never seen before, and which 
continually grew narrower and more crowded. 
Even the houses seemed to shrink in size, and 
the little girl had finally exclaimed : 

Why, it’s like the buildings were so little 
that they just squeeze the folks out of them, 
upon the steps and through the windows. I 
never, never saw! Will they get to be just 
playhouses, by-and-by? ” 

No, Bonny-Gay, I’m sure you never did. 
Yet it’s the same city in which is your own big 
home, and they are just the same sort of human 
beings as you and I.” 

'*Are they? It doesn’t — doesn’t just seem 
so, does it? And why do they all stare at us 
like that? ” 

“ Because we do at them, maybe ; and it’s not 


How the Pair Met 


31 


a common thing to see carriages with liveried 
attendants pass this way. I suppose you, in 
your dainty clothes, are as much a ' show ' to 
them as they to you in their coarse attire, or 
rags.’’ 

Bonny-Gay looked thoughtfully at her frock. 
She would have preferred to wear a simpler 
one; and a comfortable “ Tam ” instead of the 
feathered hat which adorned her sunny head. 
But her mother had decided otherwise; since 
the Gray Gentleman had done her the honor of 
that morning it was but courtesy to show ap- 
preciation of it by a good appearance. 

After a moment she looked up and observed : 

‘‘ It’s the queerest thing ! I feel as if I ought 
to get out and walk ; and as if I should give this 
hat to that little girl who hasn’t any.” 

The Gray Gentleman smiled. 

'' That would be going to the other extreme, 
my dear, and would help neither you nor them. 
Besides, this is not all we came to see, and here 
we are ! ” 

Then the street had suddenly ended and the 
carriage had turned in at a big gate, to roll al- 
most silently onward till it stopped before a 
Mansion,” with ancient wooden shutters and 


3 ^ 


A Pair of Them 


a clematis-draped porch. This was natural and 
quite suggestive to Bonny-Gay of her own be- 
loved Druid Hill, wherein she was accustomed 
to take her stately drives in her father’s own 
carriage; and when she heard the shouts and 
laughter of children from the tree-hidden 
“ Playgrounds,” her spirits rose to the normal 
again and she laughed in return. 

Dancing along beside him, with her hand in 
his, she had demanded eagerly : 

“ Is it here I am to see my ‘ twin sister ? ’ 
Oh ! I want to find her — quick, quick ! ” 

Yes, it is here, and this is — she;” answered 
her guide, as they paused behind Jimmy and 
Mary Jane, toward whom he silently nod- 
ded. 

This was how the pair met ; and while Mary 
Jane saw what she fancied was an angel ” 
that which Bonny-Gay saw was a girl of her 
own age, with short, limp legs, very long arms, 
and a crooked back. But the dark head above 
the poor humped shoulders was as shapely as 
the “ angel’s ” own ; the dark eyes as beautiful 
as the blue ones; and from the wide, merry 
mouth flashed a smile quite as radiant and 
winning. 


How the Pair Met 


33 


As soon as she saw the smile Bonny-Gay be- 
gan to understand what the Gray Gentleman 
had meant, and she telegraphed him a glance 
that said she did. Then she laughed and held 
out her two hands to Mary Jane. 

“ I guess you’re the girl Pve come to see : 
my ' twin sister ! ’ How-de-do ? ” 

'' How-de-do ? ” echoed Mary Jane, too as- 
tonished to say more. 

The Gray Gentleman quietly slipped her 
crutches under the cripple’s arms, and seizing 
Jimmy’s hand walked swiftly away. 

Both girls looked after him with regret but 
he neither glanced back nor expected them to 
follow. Then they regarded each other with 
curiosity, till Mary Jane remembered she was 
the hostess. 

Let’s sit down,” she said pointing to the 
grass. 

Bonny-Gay hesitated, and, seeing this, the 
other whisked off her apron and spread it for 
her guest. ** You might spoil your dress, that’s 
so. Salt and lemon juice ’ll take out grass- 
stain. My mother uses that when there’s spots 
on the ' wash.’ ” 

'' Does she ? I wasn’t thinking of my frock, 


34 


A Pair of Them 


though, but of that; '' answered the visitor, 
pointing to a ‘‘ Keep Off sign behind them. 

'‘Oh! that? Nobody minds that. You see, 
this is our park now. We play where we 
choose, only on the terraces and slopey places. 
You’d better use my apron though, it’s such a 
splendid dress. Your mother would feel bad 
if you smirched it.” 

“ I suppose she would. She’s very particu- 
lar.” 

" So’s mine. They say she’s the very neatest 
woman in Dingy street. The neighbors say 
it.” 

“ And our cook says mine is the ' fussiest ’ 
one in the Place. That might be some of the 
' sister ’ part, mightn’t it ? ” 

" It might. Only, course, he’s just fool- 
ing.” 

“ I don’t believe the Gray Gentleman ever 
fools. He means things. He’s made us chil- 
dren think a lot. More’n we ever did before. 
And he says things mean things, too, every sin- 
gle one. Even ' Father George,’ and the lion, 
and Max, and — and everything.” 

After this exhausting speech Bonny-Gay re- 
moved her hat and laid it upon the grass, where 


How the Pair Met 


35 


Mary Jane regarded it admiringly. It was so 
pretty she would have liked to touch it, just 
once. The hat’s owner saw the admiration, 
and remarked : 

Put it on, Mary Jane. See if it will fit 
you.” 

Oh ! I daren’t ! ” gasped the other. ‘‘ I 
might hurt it.” 

Bonny-Gay lifted the hat and placed it upon 
the cripple’s dark head, which was held per- 
fectly motionless, while the face beneath the 
brim took on an expression of bewildered hap- 
piness. 

My ! ain’t it lovely ! I should think you’d 
want to wear it all the time ! ” 

I don’t, then. I like my ‘ Tam ’ better, and 
nothing best of all. You can wear it as long 
as I stay, if you wish. ” 

That’s good of you. Some the other girls 
wouldn’t even let me touch their best hats, they 
wouldn’t.” 

Must be selfish things, then. How old 
are you, Mary Jane ? ” 

“ How’d you know my name ? and what’s 
yours? ” 

Bonny- Gay stated it and explained : 


3 ^ 


A Pair of Them 


I heard that Jimmy boy call you. How old 
did you say ? ” 

“ I didn’t say, but Fm eight, going on nine. ” 
Why, so am 1. Fm a ' Sunday’s bairn ” 
And I ! ” cried Mary Jane, breathlessly. 

After that confidences were swift ; and, pres- 
ently, each little girl knew all about the other ; 
till, in one pause for breath, the cripple sud- 
denly remembered the baby. Then she caught 
up her crutches, swung herself upon them, and 
started off in pursuit of him. 

Bonny-Gay watched her disappear in the 
midst of the crowd of children, who had all 
shyly held aloof from herself, saw how they 
clung about her and how some of the tiniest 
ones held up their faces to be kissed. She saw 
her stoop to tie the ragged shoe of one and 
button the frock of another; saw her pause to 
listen to the complaint of a sobbing lad and 
smartly box the ears of his tormentor. Then 
another glimmering of the Gray Gentleman’s 
meaning, when he called these two “ sisters, ” 
came into Bonny-Gay’s mind. 

“ She has to take care of the children down 
here just as I do in our park. I suppose we 
two are the only ones have time to bother, but 


How the Pair Met 


37 


how can she do it! Her face is so pretty — 
prettier, even, than Nettie’s, but I dare not look 
at the rest of her. I just dare not. Poor little 
girl, how she must ache ! Supposing I was that 
way. My arms stretched way down there, and 
my feet shortened way up here, and my back 
all scrouged up so ! Oh ! poor, poor Mary Jane ! 
It hurts me just to make believe and she has 
it all the time. But here she comes back and 
I mustn’t let her see I notice her looks. I 
mustn’t, for anything. It’s bad enough to have 
her body hurt, I mustn’t hurt her feelings, too. ” 
However, there was no sign of suffering 
about the little cripple as she returned to the 
side of her guest, dragging the soap-box wagon 
behind her and recklessly rolling the baby about 
in it, so eager was her advance. There were 
tears in Bonny-Gay’s eyes for a moment, 
though, till she caught sight of the baby and 
heard Mary Jane exclaim : 

Did you ever see such a sight ? What do 
you s’pose mother will say? The teacher set 
him in the sand-box and somebody gave him a 
stick of ’lasses candy, and he’s messed from 
head to foot. But isn’t he a dear? ” and drop- 
ping to the ground she caught the little one to 


38 


A Pair of Them 


her breast and covered his sandy, bedaubed 
countenance with adoring kisses. 

He's the funniest thing I ever saw ! " 
laughed Bonny-Gay, so merrily that the Gray 
Gentleman drew near to join in the fun. After 
him trailed an army of young “ farmers " and 
in another moment the visitor had ceased to be 
a stranger to anybody there. 

“ Let’s see-saw ! ” cried Joe Stebbins, seizing 
her hand and drawing her to the playground. 
Then somebody swung Mary Jane and the baby 
upon the beam beside her, some other girls took 
the opposite end, and they all went tilting up 
and down, up and down, in the most exciting 
manner possible. Then there was the Maypole, 
furnished with ropes instead of ribbons, from 
the ends of which they hung and swung, around 
and around, till they dropped olf for sheer 
weariness. And here Bonny-Gay was proud to 
see that Mary Jane could beat the whole com- 
pany. Her arms were so long and so strong, 
they could cling and outswing all the others; 
and when she had held to her rope until she was 
the very last one left her laughter rang out in 
a way that was good to hear. 

“ Seems to me I never heard so much laugh- 


How the Pair Met 


39 

ing in all my life ! ” exclaimed Bonny-Gay to 
the Gray Gentleman when, tired out with fun, 
she nestled beside him as he rested on a bench. 

“ Yes, it’s a fine thing, a fine thing. And 
you see that it doesn’t take big houses or rich 
clothes to make happiness. All these new 
friends of yours belong to those tiny homes we 
passed on our way down. ” 

They do! Even Mary Jane, my sister?” 
Even in an humbler. Dingy street is just 
what its name implies. But we’ll drive that 
way back and what do you say to giving Mary 
Jane a ride thus far?” 

“ Oh I I’d love it ! She’s so jolly and 
friendly and seems never to think of her — her 
poor back and — things. ” 

“ You’ll like her better and better — if you 
should ever meet again. She won my heart 
the first time I saw her, over a month ago. I 
met her dragging home a basket of her mother’s 
laundry work, in that same soap-box wagon she 
utilizes for the baby. The family chariot it 
seems to be. I was taking a stroll this way, 
quite by myself, and thinking of other things 
than where I was walking when I stumbled and 
my hat flew off. Then I heard a rattle and 


40 


A Pair of Them 


squeak of rusty small wheels, and there was 
Mary Jane hopping up to me on her ‘ wooden 
feet ' and holding out my hat, with the most 
sympathetic smile in the world. ‘ Here it is. 
Mister, and I do hope it isn't hurt; nor you 
either, ’ said she; and in just that one glimpse 
I had of her I saw how sweet and brave and 
helpful she was. So Tve been proud to call 
her my friend ever since. " 

Just then arose a cry so sudden and boister- 
ous it could have been uttered by no lips except 
the baby’s. For a teacher had tapped a bell, 
and somebody had cried ‘ Luncheon ! ’ and he 
knew what that meant as well as anyone. 

So Mary Jane swung round to where he lay 
upon his back in the sunshine and set him up 
against a rock, and thrust a piece of the loaf she 
had brought into his chubby fists, and cocked 
her head admiringly while she cried out : 

'' Did anybody ever see so cute a child as 
he!” 

Then she remembered the visitors and with 
the truest hospitality proffered them the broken 
loaf. 

I ought to have given it to you the first, 
I know that, but he’d have yelled constant if I 


How the Pair Met 


41 

hadn’t tended him. It’s wonderful, I think, 
how he knows ‘that bell ! ” 

“ Wonderful ! ” echoed the Gray Gentleman, 
as he bowed and gravely broke a tiny portion 
from the small stale loaf. 

Bonny-Gay was going to decline, but when 
she saw the Gray Gentleman’s action, she 
checked her ‘‘No, I thank you ” unspoken and 
also accepted a crumbly crust. After which 
Mary Jane distributed several other bits among 
some clamorous charges and finally sat down 
with the last morsel to enjoy that herself in 
their presence. 

“ I think dinner never tastes so good as it 
does out doors here, in our park, ” she re- 
marked with a sigh of satisfaction. 

“ Dinner ! ” cried Bonny-Gay and looked into 
the Gray Gentleman’s face. But from some- 
thing she saw there she was warned to say no 
more; and she made a brave effort to swallow 
her own crust without letting her entertainer 
see how distasteful a matter it was. 

After this the Gray Gentleman saw a cloud 
arising and though he did not fear a shower for 
himself he was anxious that Bonny-Gay should 
take no harm from her unusual outing. So he 


42 


A Pair of Them 


called the coachman to bring up the carriage 
and had Mary Jane and the baby lifted in. Then 
Bonny-Gay sprang after them, and the master 
himself made his adieux to the teachers and fol- 
lowed, watched by the admiring, maybe envi- 
ous, glances of many bright eyes. 

However, one carriage, no matter how 
capacious, cannot hold a whole kindergarten, 
and neither could it carry the pleasant “ Play- 
grounds ” away ; so if there was any envy it 
did not last long. Which was a good thing, 
too, seeing what happened so soon afterward. 

The landau had not progressed far toward 
Dingy street and Mary Jane was still wearing 
the feather-trimmed hat, which her new friend 
had persuaded her to put on just to surprise 
Mrs. Bump, when there came a rush, a bark, 
a series of shrieks, and the high-spirited horses 
were off at a mad gallop; which grew wilder 
and wilder, and soon passed quite beyond con- 
trol of coachman or even the Gray Gentleman, 
who had promptly seized the reins as they fell 
from the driver’s hands, but had been powerless 
to do more than retain them in his tightly 
clutched fingers. 

It seemed an age that the frantic beasts sped 


How the Pair Met 


43 


onward, following their own will, before the 
crash came and they tore themselves free, leav- 
ing the hindering vehicle to go to ruin against 
the great post, where it struck. But it was, in 
reality, not more than half a moment, and when 
the reins were wrenched from his grasp the 
Gray Gentleman looked anxiously about him to 
learn if anyone was hurt. 

Mary Jane and the baby were on the floor 
of the carriage, safe and sound. The terrified 
footman was clinging to his seat behind; the 
coachman had either leaped or been thrown out, 
but had landed upon his feet; but where was 
Bonny-Gay ? 

A white, motionless little figure lay face 
downward in the dust, a rod away, and over 
this bent a black, shaggy dog, whining and 
moaning in a way that was almost human. 

“ Max ! Max ! Was it you, was it you ! 
Oh ! wretched animal, what have you done ! ” 

Max it was. But, at the sight of his silent 
playmate and the altered sound of a familiar 
voice, a cowed, unhappy Max; who crouched 
and slunk away as the Gray Gentleman lifted 
from the roadway the limp figure of his own 
beloved Bonny-Gay. 


CHAPTER IV 


MAX REAPPEARS 

There was neither drug store nor doctor’s 
office near, and the Gray Gentleman’s instant 
decision was to carry Bonny-Gay to Mrs. 
Bump’s house. Strong man though he was he 
felt almost faint with anxiety as he sprang from 
the carriage and without losing an instant of 
time lifted out Mary Jane and the baby. Then 
he dropped her crutches beside her and ran to 
the child in the roadway. 

Five minutes later, Bonny-Gay was lying on 
Mrs. Bump’s bed, and the Gray Gentleman had 
gone away in pursuit of aid, leaving a last in- 
junction behind him as he disappeared: 

“ Do everything you can for her, I beg, but 
keep useless people out. ” 

Thus it was that, though curious faces peered 
in at the window, no person save Mrs. Stebbins 
crossed the threshold of their neighbor’s house, 
44 


Max Reappears 


45 


and the two women were left unhindered to 
minister to the injured child as best they knew 
how. They were not able, indeed, to restore 
the little girl to • consciousness ; but they had 
cleared the soil of the street from her face and 
clothing and had placed the inert figure in an 
easy posture, long before there was heard the 
rattle and dash of another approaching vehicle, 
and a doctor’s phaeton drew up at the door. 

The surgeon’s examination showed that one 
of the child’s legs was broken but this did not 
trouble him half so much as her continued un- 
consciousness. But he worked diligently to re- 
store her and to prepare the injured limb for 
removal to her own home. 

From a low seat in the corner and hugging 
the baby tight, to keep him quiet, Mary Jane 
watched the little suflFerer upon her mother’s 
bed, with wide, dry eyes and heaving breast. 

Oh! if I could only take it for her! ” she 
thought, helplessly. It wouldn’t have mattered 
to anybody like me, ’cause I’m all crooked any- 
how ; but her ! She was that straight and beau- 
tiful — my sake! -It mustn’t be — it mustn’t! 
And she didn’t mind. She let me wear her 
hat, me. Well, that didn’t get hurt, any way. 


46 


A Pair of Them 


It just tumbled off all safe. I had to wear it 
home, else I couldn’t have dragged the baby, 
and I don’t know not a thing whatever became 
of his wagon. Never mind that, though. If 
she only would open her eyes, just once, just 
once ! ” 

But they had not opened even when, a half- 
hour later, another carriage paused before the 
Bumps’ tenement, and a tall, pale lady de- 
scended, trembling so that she had almost to be 
carried by the Gray Gentleman who supported 
her. 

This was Mrs. McClure and she had just 
been stepping into her own vehicle for a morn- 
ing’s shopping when he reached her door, bring- 
ing his unhappy message. So there was no 
time lost in securing a vehicle and the mother 
was soon at her child’s bedside. At any other 
hour she might have shrunk from entering so 
poor a place but at that moment she had, for 
once, forgotten her own high station and 
thought only of her darling. 

One glimpse of the lovely face, so still and 
unresponsive, banished the mother’s last vestige 
of strength and she would have fallen where 
she stood, had not Mrs. Bump slipped an arm 


47 


Max Reappears 

about her and motioned Mrs. Stebbins to bring 
the one sound chair the room could boast. The 
doctor held a glass of water to her lips and the 
faintness passed. 

Is— she— alive? ” 

“ Yes. She is still alive, ’’ answered the phy- 
sician, gravely, and Mrs. McClure turned faint 
again. 

“ Of course, she’s alive, lady ; and what’s 
more it won’t be long, I reckon, before she’ll be 
asking a lot of questions all about what’s hap- 
pened her. Oh! yes indeed. I’ve seen ’em a 
sight worst than she is, and up and around 
again as lively as crickets. Why, there’s my 
Mary Jane — ” 

But the cripple held up a warning finger and 
Mrs. Bump ceased speaking. Though not her 
helpful ministrations; for with a whisk to the 
stove she had seized a coarse brown teapot and 
poured from it a hot draught into a cup that 
had no handle, indeed, yet could serve as well 
as another to refresh an exhausted creature. 

Here, honey, just sip this. Strong, I know, 
and not the finest, but ’twill set you up, quick. 
I know. There, there. ” 

Moved by the same instinct which had made 


48 


A Pair of Them 


Bonny-Gay accept her crust dinner, Mrs. Mc- 
Clure drank the scalding liquid and did, indeed, 
revive under it. Then the doctor and the Gray 
Gentleman lifted the injured child and placed 
her gently upon the carriage seat. 

Seeing which, the mother hastily rose and 
followed, supported still, though unnoticed on 
her part, by the strong arms of the other mother 
whose sympathetic tears were now silently 
flowing ; even while her cheery voice reiterated, 
much to the surgeon’s disgust: 

“ Never you fear, dear lady. She’ll be as 
right as a trivet. Aye, indeed ; she’ll be talking 
to you before you get to your own house. Yes, 
indeed. We poor folks see many an accident 
and mostly they don’t amount to much; even 
my Mary Jane — ” 

But there was Mary Jane herself just as the 
carriage door was closing, thrusting something 
white and feather-trimmed into the pale lady’s 
lap. 

“ Her hat, lady. Bonny-Gay’s best hat ! ” 

Mrs. McClure was as kind hearted as most, 
yet at that moment she was already unstrung, 
and the glimpse she caught of poor Mary Jane’s 
deformity shocked her afresh. Without in- 


49 


Max Reappears 

tending it she did shrink away from contact 
with so ‘‘ repulsive ” a child and Mrs. Bump 
saw the movement. Her own face hardened 
and she withdrew her arm from supporting the 
stranger to clasp it about her own child. 

But Mary Jane saw nothing, save that Bon- 
ny-Gay was being carried away without her 
beautiful headgear, and again she thrust it 
eagerly forward. 

“ Her hat ! Her lovely hat ! She mustn’t go 
without her Sunday hat ! ” 

It was the sweetest, most sympathetic of 
voices and almost startling to the rich woman, 
■ coming as it did from such a source. It made 
her take a second look at the cripple and this 
time, fortunately, the glance rested upon the 
child’s fine, spiritual face. An instant regret 
for the repugnance she had first felt shot 
through Mrs. McClure’s mind and leaning from 
the carriage window she dropped the hat upon 
Mary Jane’s dark head. 

Keep it, little girl, as a gift from Bonny- 
Gay. It will delight her that you should have 
it. Quick now, coachman. Swift and careful ! ” 
Then they were all gone and Mary Jane, be- 
decked in her unusual finery, stood leaning upon 


50 


A Pair of Them 


her crutches, crying as if her heart would break. 
Her mother glanced at her hastily but thought 
it best to let “ her have her cry out. She cries 
so seldom it ought to do her good, ” she re- 
flected. Besides, there was the baby rolling on 
the floor, in imminent danger from a wash- 
boiler full of steaming water ; and a whole hour 
wasted from her own exacting labors. 

Presently, the hunchback felt something cold 
and wet touch her down-hanging hand and 
dashed the tears from her eyes to see what it 
might be. There sat a great black dog beside 
her, so close that he almost forced her crutch 
away. His eyes were fixed upon her face in a 
mute appeal for sympathy, and his whole bear- 
ing showed as much sorrow as her tears had 
done. Her first impulse was to shrink away 
from him, even to strike at him with the crutch, 
as she indignantly exclaimed: 

“ You’re the very dog did it! You jumped 
into the wagon and scared the horses. If it 
hadn’t been for you she wouldn’t have been 
hurt. Go ’way! Go away off out of sight! 
You horrid, ugly, mean old dog! ” 

Mary Jane’s vehemence surprised even her- 
self and she shook her head so vigorously 


Max Reappears 51 

that the feather-trimmed hat fell off into 
the dust. 

Then was a transformation. Max — it was, 
indeed he ! — had already dropped flat upon his 
stomach and crouched thus, whining and moan- 
ing in a manner that betokened such suffering 
that it quickly conquered the cripple’s anger; 
and now, as the hat fell right before his nose, 
he began to smell of it and lick it with the most 
extravagant joy. A moment later he had sprung 
up, caught the hat in his teeth, and was gam- 
bolling all around and around Mary Jane, 
as if he were the very happiest dog in the 
world. 

“ My sake ! How you act ! And oh — oh 
— oh ! I know you, I know you ! You must be 
that Max-dog that she told me about. That 
she’d known all her life and wouldn’t be let 
come any more to her park ! I guess I can see 
the whole thing. I guess you run away from 
that man the gardener gave you to. Maybe 
you went right back to where ‘ Father George ’ 
and the lion are; and maybe you saw Bonny- 
Gay and the Gray Gentleman come away; and 
maybe you followed them. Maybe it was be- 
cause you were so glad, and not bad, that you 


52 


A Pair of Them 


jumped into the carriage and scared the horses. 
Oh ! you poor doggie, if that is how it is ! 

Which was, in fact, exactly what had hap- 
pened ; and it seemed that the intelligent animal, 
who had loved Bonny-Gay ever since she wa? 
first wheeled about the beautiful Place in her 
baby-carriage, had now a comprehension of the 
damage his delight at finding her again had 
done. 

So Mary Jane hopped back into the house 
and called Max by that name to . follow her. 
He did so, readily, and sat down very near to 
the foot of the bed on which she carefully placed 
his little mistress’ hat. 

Well, daughter, this has been a morning, 
hasn’t it? Now, these handkerchiefs are ready 
to iron and I’ve fixed your high seat right close 
to my tub, so whilst I wash you can iron away 
and tell me the whole story and all about it. 
Here comes father, too, and it’ll pass the time 
for him to hear it. And, oh! William! you 
never could guess whatever* has happened right 
here in this very kitchen, this very morning that 
ever was! But, I must work now, and Mary 
Jane’ll talk. ” 

Talk she did and fast; and under her elo- 


Max Reappears 53 

quence Bonny-Gay became quite the most 
wonderful child in the world : 

“ The beauti fullest, the kindest, the friendli- 
est that ever lived. It didn’t ’pear to make a 
mite of difference that she was all so fixed up in 
her clothes; she played games as lively as the 
next one. She hung on to the Maypole ropes 
near as long as I did, and if I’d known what 
was coming I’d have dropped off quick and let 
her win the count. And my ! how she did enjoy 
her dinner off my loaf ! To see her little white 
hands hold it up to her lips and see her just 
nibble, nibble — Why, mother Bump! ’Twould 
have done your heart good ! ” 

“ Eat your dinner, did she? Wish to good- 
ness it had choked her I ” growled William 
Bump, from the doorstep. 

“ Why, father ! W-h-y ! ” gasped Mary 
Jane, amazed. 

The man replied only by whistling Max to 
him, and by stroking the dog’s head when the 
whistle had been obeyed. 

But when the cripple had reached that part of 
her story descriptive of the final accident, the 
father spoke again and this time with even a 
more vindictive earnestness than before. 


54 


A Pair of Them 


‘‘Broke her leg, did it? Glad of it Never 
was gladder of anything in all my life. Hope 
she’ll suffer a lot. Hope — What better is she, 
his little girl, than you, my Mary Jane? Glad 
there is something that evens matters up. I 
hope his heart’ll ache till it comes as near 
breakin’ as mine — every time I look at your 
poor crooked shoulders, you poor miserable 
child! Soldo!” 

Both Mrs. Bump and Mary Jane were aghast 
at the awfulness of this desire. Even the baby 
had paused open-mouthed and silent, as if he, 
too, could comprehend the dreadful words and 
be shocked by them. Only Max remained un- 
disturbed, even nestled the closer to the blue- 
shirted man, who in some manner reminded 
him of his old master, Mr. Weems. 

Then Mrs. Bump found her voice, and 
though she was a loyal wife she did not hesi- 
tate in this emergency to give her husband a 
very indignant reproof. So indignant, in fact, 
that she forgot the caution of many years, and 
with her hand on William’s shoulder, demanded 
fiercely : 

“You say that, you? You! You dare to 
rejoice in the misfortunes of others when it 


55 


Max Reappears 

was by your own fault — your own fault, Wil- 
liam Bump ! — that our poor lass sits yonder a 
cripple for life. When I left her in your care 
that I might go and intercede for you to be 
given a fresh trial at the works, what was it 
but that you loved the drink better than the 
child ? and left her on the high ledge while you 
slept — a human log! Yet you were sorry 
enough afterwards and you should take shame 
to yourself for your wickedness. If s the drink 
again that’s in you, this day; and that has lost 
you another job and turned your once good 
heart into a cruel beast’s! So that is what I 
think of you, and my — ” 

Then she turned and there sat Mary Jane, 
listening, horror-struck and broken-hearted ! 

Regret was useless. The secret, guarded so 
jealously for years, was now disclosed. Till 
then the hunchback had believed her affliction 
was hers from birth, and had never dreamed 
that it was the result of a terrible fall, due to 
her own father’s carelessness. He had always 
seemed to love her so, with a sort of remorseful 
tenderness quite different from the attention he 
gave to his other, healthier children. But if it 
had all been by his fault ! 


56 


A Pair of Them 


Poor Mary Jane! Alas, alas! Far worse 
for her was the anger and hatred that at that 
moment sprang to life in her tortured heart. 
As in a picture she saw other little maids, her 
playmates, even this recent vision of Bonny- 
Gay, straight-limbed, strong, active, enjoying 
everything without aid of those hindering 
crutches or the heavy dragging limbs. 

“ Oh ! father ! you did it ? you ! And I ought 
to have been like them — I ought — I ought ! ” 

Nobody spoke after that. Mary Jane’s head 
sank down upon the high table where stood her 
little flatiron, fast cooling. Mrs. Bump felt a 
new and deadly faintness seize her own vigor- 
ous body and sat weakly down. How could she 
undo the mischief she had wrought? Until 
now there had been between the father and the 
child such a wonderful affection that it had been 
a matter of constant comment among all the 
neighbors, and the mother had been proud that 
this was so. Now — what had she done, what 
had she done ! 

Presently, William Bump rose, put on his 
hat, whistled to Max, and walked out. At the 
door he paused, cast one miserable glance over 
the little room and his face was very white be- 


Max Reappears 


57 


neath its stains of toil and weather. His eyes 
seemed mutely to seek for one ray of pity, of 
forgiveness; but Mary Jane’s head was still 
upon the table and her mother’s face was hidden 
in her own labor-hardened palms. 

Only the baby began to coo and gurgle in 
a way which, under ordinary circumstances, 
would have elicited admiring exclamations, but 
which now secured no response. So, then he 
rolled over and closed his eyes; and not even 
he saw when the man and the dog passed clear 
out of sight, across the open lots, and toward 
the marshy places which led to the water and 
the unknown country beyond. 

By-and-by, the other children came home 
from the “ Playgrounds, ” full of chatter about 
the day’s delights and eager with questions con- 
cerning the wonderful happening of Mary 
Jane’s ride. Then the mother roused and kept 
them from troubling their sister, and dispatched 
them to examine the wrecked carriage, away 
down the street. 

By the time they returned Mary Jane’s eyes 
were no longer red and there was nothing out 
of common in her manner. Mrs. Bump was 
ironing away as if her life depended on it, and 




A Pair of Them 


even humming the first strains of a hymn, 
Lord, in the morning. Thou shalt. Thou shalt 
— Lord, in the morning Thou shalt hear. ” 
This always denoted an extra cheerfulness on 
the singer’s part, and the children became boist- 
erously happy in proportion. 

When supper time came they set a place 
for father, ” just as always; and though even 
by the end of the meal he had not appeared 
his unused plate was still left, as if he might 
come in at any moment. 

Yet it was quite midnight when Mary Jane, 
for once unable to sleep, crept down to her 
mother’s room and called, softly: 

“Has he come, mother?” 

“ No dearie, not yet. But it’s not late, you 
know for — him ! ” replied the wife, so cheer- 
fully, that even her quick-witted daughter did 
not suspect the heartache beneath the cheerful- 
ness, nor the tear-stained face upon the pillow. 

“When he does, I wish you’d call me. I 
must tell him it’s — it’s all just right. ” 

“ Yes, darling. Trust mother and go to sleep 
now. I’ll call you sure. ” 

And neither guessed how long that call would 
be delayed. 


CHAPTER V 


MARY JANE GOES VISITING 

But Mary Jane Bump was not the girl to be 
gloomy over anything for very long; least of 
all over anything so trifling as her own personal 
afflictions; and the morning saw her hopping 
about in her narrow home, as merry, as loving, 
and as helpful as ever. Even more helpful, it 
seemed to the conscience-stricken mother, than 
before she had felt the fierce anger of the previ- 
ous day. 

“ Appears like she’d try to make even me 
forget she ever heard what I said, poor lamb! 
Well, I still think, what I’ve so often thought, 
that the Lord did bring sweet out of that bitter, 
when He made her so beautiful inside, even if 
she is crooked without. And more’n that, to 
me she don’t seem so misshaped. I almost 
forget she ain’t just like the rest. Aye, honey? 
What’s that you say ? ” 


59 


6o 


A Pair of Them 


If you can spare me, mother, after all the 
work^is done, Fd like to go to Bonny-Gay’s 
house and find out about her Oh ! do you 
s’pose she will get well ? ’’ 

“ Sure, child.” 

“I guess she will, too. Can I, mother? 
When the work’s all done ? ” 

“ Bless you, my lass, and that will never be. 
So there’s no use tarrying for such a time. And 
I don’t blame you for wanting to go. I’d ad- 
mire to hear myself. But I guess it’s a long 
step from here and I don’t know the way, even 
I don’t. You’d have to ride in a street car 
and that costs money — which is one of the 
things I can least spare. ” 

At mention of the car, Mary Jane’s eyes 
sparkled. 

On rare occasions — once when she went to 
market with her mother, at holiday time, and 
once when the wash had been too large and the 
patron’s home too distant for even her nimble 
crutches — she had enjoyed the luxury of travel 
by electricity. In imagination, she could still 
feel the swift rush of air against her cheek, 
could see the houses hurrying past, and hear 
the delightful ting-a-ling of the bell, as the 


Mary Jane Goes Visiting 6i 

motorman stopped to let the passengers on or 
off. She had not dreamed that it would be 
necessary for her to ride, in order to pay the 
visit she desired; but if it were — Oh! felic- 
ity! 

The light in the eyes she loved decided the 
mother upon the indulgence. A car-ride meant 
a nickel, or part of one, at least, for even little 
Mary Jane ; and a nickel would buy a loaf, and 
many loaves were needful where there were 
seven mouths to fill, and every mouth a hungry 
one. More than that, if William were out of 
work — 

Mrs. Bump considered no further. Mary 
Jane should have the pleasure — no matter what 
happened afterward. 

Of course, you’ll ride ! Why not ? Don’t 
suppose I’d let you start off a-foot for such a 
length, do you? I’ve a notion that this Mt. 
Vernon Place is away at the other end the city. 
Leastwise, it must be a good bit from Dingy 
street, ’cause I never heard of it before, and 
I’ve been around the neighborhood considerable, 
with the wash, you know. Yes, you may go. 
Fly round right smart and get your clothes 
changed. What a fine thing it is that your 


62 


A Pair of Them 


other frock is clean, and I must say I did have 
good luck ironing it, last week. ” 

You always do have good luck, mother 
Bump ! You’re the very loveliest ironer in the 
world ! ” and the wooden feet clicked across the 
room that their owner might hug this famous 
laundress. 

“ And you’re a partial little girl, honey. ” 
** But, mother, dear, the work isn’t done — 
yet. There’s the steps to be scrubbed and that 
other pile of hank’chiefs, and — ” 

Well, I reckon we’ll live just as long if our 
steps ain’t done for one day in the year. Be- 
sides,! might let one the younger ones do them 
and see. They’re always teasing to, you know. 
Strange, how human nature loves to mess in a 
pail of soap and water. ” 

Who’ll mind the baby, if I go ? ” 

I will, Mary Jane Bump ! Seem to think 
the precious youngster ain’t hardly safe in his 
own mother’s hands, do you ? Run along, run 
along, girlie, and fix yourself fine. ” 

Away up the narrow stair swung happy Mary 
Jane; and in a very few moments down she 
swung again. She had exchanged her blue 
gingham for her pink print, had dusted off the 


Mary Jane Goes Visiting 63 

shoes which, alas! were so useless that they 
rarely wore out! and had brushed her dark 
wavy hair till it floated about her sweet face, 
as fine and fleece-like as it was possible for hair 
to be. In her hands she carried two hats; her 
own little plain “ sailor, ” and the gift of Bon- 
ny-Gay. 

Oh ! I wouldn’t wear — ” began Mrs. Bump, 
answering the question in Mary Jane’s eyes; 
then seeing the disappointment which crept into 
them, hastily altered her original judgment to 
fit the case. “ I wouldn’t wear that ojd ‘ sailor ’ 
if I was a little girl that owned feathers like 
those. Indeedy, that I wouldn’t. ” 

Mary Jane’s face rippled with smiles and for 
almost the first time in her life she did a coquet- 
tish thing. Standing upon her crutches before 
the tiny looking-glass, hung at an angle above 
the mantel, she adjusted and readjusted the 
pretty leghorn, until she had placed it as nearly 
in the position it had occcupied on Bonny-Gay’s 
yellow curls as she could. Then she wheeled 
about and asked: 

Does it look right, mother? Just as right 
as she would like to have it, when she sees 
me?” 


64 


A Pair of Them 


“ Perfect, honey ! And though I maybe 
oughtn’t to say it before you, you’re the very 
sweetest little girl in Baltimore city! ” 

“ Ah I but, mother Bump, you haven’t seen 
all the others, I ” laughed the child. 

“ Now, here’s your money. Two nickels, 
dear. I’ve just given them a bit of a polish in 
the suds while you were up stairs. One is to 
go with, and one to come home. I’ve been 
puzzling it out, and the best thing is for you to 
go to the nearest car-line you find; then ask 
the conductor how nigh it will take you to the 
Place. He’ll be kind to you, I know. They’re 
always obliging, the conductors are, and when 
it’s anybody like you, why they just seem to 
tear themselves to pieces to be nice. You’ll 
have no trouble, honey, not a mite. And when 
you get there, don’t forget to make your man- 
ners, pretty, like I’ve taught you. Say every- 
thing to cheer the lady up, if she seems down- 
hearted a bit, and good-by, good-by. Bless you, 
Mary Jane! ” 

Mrs. Bump stood at her door-way and Mrs. 
Stebbins at hers, to watch the little figure hop 
away, and when it turned at the corner and they 
caught a glimpse of the radiant face beneath 


Mary Jane Goes Visiting 65 

the picture-hat, they smiled upon each other 
well satisfied. 

“ No harm’ll happen her! ” said Mrs. Steb- 
bins, confidently. “ She’s one of the Lord’s 
own.” 

I’m not fearing ! though I’m going to miss 
her powerful,” answered the mother, and re- 
tired to her tub. 

Mary Jane’s heart beat so with excitement 
that she could hardly breatlie. Here she was, 
going alone on an unknown journey, to ride 
in a car quite by herself, and to pay her own 
fare exactly as if she were a grown-up. She 
had to tightly clutch that corner of her little 
handkerchief wherein the nickles were tied, to 
make herself realize the delightful fact; and 
already, in her dutiful heart, she was planning 
how she could save, bV not eating quite so much 
of her portion of food, and so, in time, make 
up to her mother for this unwonted extrava- 
gance. 

Indeed, she thought so fast and deeply, that 
she stood on the corner and let the first car go 
by without signalling it. Then she brought her 
wits to the present and when the next one 
whizzed up she was ready for it, raising her 


66 


A Pair of Them 


hand and motioning it to stop, as she had seen 
other people do. 

It did stop, of course, and to such a little 
passenger, also, of course, the conductor was 
quite as kind as Mrs. Bump had prophesied he 
would be. He lifted Mary Jane into the very 
front seat of all and he would have been glad 
not to take a fare from her. But this his duty 
compelled him to do, and when he had received 
it he paused a rrfoment beside her to inquire: 

“Taking a ride, are you? Well, it’s a nice 
morning. ” 

“ Isn't it ! Just beautiful. Yes, Pm going to 
Mt. Vernon Place. " 

“Whew! you are? Well, this is the wrong 
car — Never mind. You can transfer. Mt. 
Vernon Place is a long way from here and quite 
the swellest part of the»town; you know that, 
I suppose. " 

“ It's where Bonny-Gay lives. " 

“Oh! indeed. Well, don't you worry. I’ll 
look out for you and pass you along. Company 
allows only one transfer, now, but I'll fix it. 
It’ll be all right. Don’t worry. ” 

Mary Jane had not the slightest intention of 
worrying. That was something she had never 


67 


Mary Jane Goes Visiting 

done until the night before, and then about her 
missing father. But in this brilliant sunshine, 
with the world all her own, so to speak, even 
that anxiety had disappeared. He would be 
sure to return and very soon. He loved them 
all so dearly, and even for herself, if there were 
none others, he would come. He couldn’t live 
without her; he had often told her so. There- 
fore she merely hoped he was having as good 
a time, at that moment, as she was ; and settled 
herself serenely in her place to enjoy every- 
thing. 

She never forgot the first part of that day’s 
ride. There were few passengers in the car 
and these were all men, quite able to look out 
for themselves ; so the conductor remained near 
her and talked of the places they passed, point- 
ing out this building and that, for Mary Jane’s 
enlightenment. She bestowed upon each an 
attention that was quite flattering to her en- 
tertainer, till the car turned another corner 
and he had to move away. People came more 
frequently now and at every block of their ad- 
vance, the men and women seemed to Mary 
Jane to crowd and hurry more and more. They 
almost crushed her own small person, climbing 


68 


A Pair of Them 


past her, but she still clung sturdily to the outer 
corner of her seat, as her friend, the conductor, 
had bidden her. 

“No need for you to move up, little girl. 
You’ll be changing after a bit, and it’ll be easier 
for them than you. ” 

Right in the very business part of the city 
the car stopped and he came back to her, thrust- 
ing a pale green slip of paper into her hand, 
and hurriedly lifting her out. 

“ That’s your transfer. Yonder’s your car. 
Give that paper to the other conductor. He’ll 
help you on. Say, Snyder ! ” he called to his 
co-laborer. “ This kid’s for Vernon Place. Put 
her off at Charles street, will you ? and pass her 
along. I’ll make it right with the company. ” 

Then he was gone and Mary Jane stood be- 
wildered in the midst of a throng of vehicles, 
and street cars, and busy, rushing people. For 
an instant her head whirled, then she saw the 
impatient beckoning of conductor Snyder, and 
swung herself toward the waiting car. A man, 
into whose path she had hopped, caught her 
up and placed her on the platform, and again 
she was off. 

But this time she was merely one of a crowd 


Mary Jane Goes Visiting 69 

and the ticket collecting kept Mr. Snyder too 
busy to bother with any single passenger. In- 
deed, some slight hindrance just as they reached 
Charles street put Mary Jane and her destina- 
tion quite out of mind, and it was not until 
they had gone some blocks beyond and he had 
chanced to come near her again that she ven- 
tured to ask : 

“ Are we almost there? 

“Where’s there?” 

“ He — he said — Charles street, ” she an- 
swered abashed by his brusque manner. 

“ Charles street ! Why, that’s long back. 
Did you want to get off there ? Oh ! I forgot. 
You’re the child — Well, such as you ought not 
to be traveling alone. Here. I’ll put you off 
now, you can walk back. Ask anybody you 
meet, and they’ll direct you. Wait. I’ll give 
you another transfer. It’s against rules, but 
the other fellow’s responsible. ” 

This time it was a yellow slip Mary Jane 
received and again she was set down in the 
midst of a confusing crowd. She was in immi- 
nent danger of being run over, and saw that ; so 
promptly retreated to the curbstone and from 
thence watched the unending procession of cars, 


70 


A Pair of Them 


which followed one another without a moment’s 
break. For just there it happened that many 
railway lines used the same tracks and it would 
have puzzled a much more experienced person 
than Mary Jane to distinguish between them. 

Finally, she grew so tired and confused with 
the watching and the racket that she resolved 
to walk ; and set out boldly in the direction from 
which she had come, scanning the street name- 
signs upon the corners. It seemed to her she 
would never come to that she sought, but she 
did, at last ; and here a new difficulty presented. 

“ Which way shall I go ? this — or that ? Oh ! 
dear! The time is going so fast and I don’t 
get there. I’ll have to ask somebody the way. ” 

But though she made several shy little efforts 
to attract attention, not a passer-by paused to 
answer her low question. Almost all fancied 
her an unfortunate, petitioning alms ; and some 
thought her a street merchant with something 
to sell. Many and many an one had gone by, 
till in the midst of all these men she saw a 
woman. 

Only a scrub-woman, to be sure, on her way 
to some office to her daily labor ; but she paused 
when the cripple spoke to her and looked with 


Mary Jane Goes Visiting 71 

feminine curiosity at the plainly clothed child in 
her expensive hat. 

“ Mt. Vernon Place! Why, child alive, it’s 
miles from here! Away up yonder. This is 
Charles and it does run straight enough, that’s 
so, to where you want to go. But it’s so far, 
little girl. And you a cripple. You’d much 
best go back home and let some older person do 
your errand. Whatever was your ma thinkin’ 
of, to send you such a bout ? ” 

She didn’t send me, I came because I 
wished. Can you tell me which car is right? 
and will this yellow ticket pay my way?” 

The woman examined the transfer-slip, 
glanced at a clock on a near-by building, and 
shook her head. 

“ That’s the car, all right, but that transfer’s 
no good. After fifteen minutes they won’t take 
’em, and it’s half an hour or more. No. You’ll 
have to pay a second fare. I’ll help you on, if 
you like. Where do you live ? ” 

Ninety-seven, Dingy street. ” 

“ The land ! That’s almost the jumping off 
place of the city. Did they give you only 
money enough to ride twice. ” 

“ My mother gave me ten cents, ” answered 


72 


A Pair of Them 


Mary Jane, proudly, yet somehow, the fortune 
which had seemed so big, a little while before, 
now appeared very small and inadequate. 

“ Pshaw ! If I had a cent I’d give it to you. 

I don’t know what you’d better do. ” 

‘‘ I know. I’ll walk. And thank you for tell- 
ing me the way. If I keep right on this street, 
and go up and up, will I surely, surely get 
there. ” 

“ Sure. I know, ’cause I used to clean up in 
that neighborhood. I hope you’ll have luck. 
Good-by.” 

“ Good-by,” answered Mary Jane, smil- 
ingly. 

The momentary pause and conversation had 
rested her and she now felt wholly equal to any 
demands upon her strength. If she had merely 
to follow this one avenue till she came in sight 
of the monument and the lion, why! that was 
as easy as A, B, C I So she set out with fresh 
courage and full enjoyment of every novel sight 
or sound by the way; though, all the while, 
watchfully reading the street sign at every 
corner she reached. 

It was almost two hours later that she came 
in sight of the Place. She knew it in a moment, 


73 


Mary Jane Goes Visiting 

even though she had had but the one brief de- 
scription of it from Bonny-Gay’s lips, and she 
felt as if she had come into a new and wonder- 
ful world. 

How big and still and — and — finished it 
looks! And, oh! how tired I am. My arms 
ache like they never did before, and I can hardly 
hold my crutches. I’ll get to that low stone 
round the monument — that’s where she sits 
with the Gray Gentleman — and I’ll get rested. 
Then I’ll look all around and pick out her house. 
I shall know it because she said it was all cov- 
ered with vines and there was a big yard behind, 
with trees and things. Oh! how good it is to 
sit down. ” 

So good, indeed, that before she knew it the 
exhausted little maid had dropped her head 
upon the curbing and fallen fast asleep. 

There Mr. Weems discovered her and would 
have roused her to send her home. But a sec- 
ond glance at her convinced him that this was 
no child of that locality, and that she seemed 
a very weary little girl, indeed. So he simply 
folded his own jacket and placed it under her 
head and left her to recover herself. 

She awoke after a little time and sat up, con- 


74 


A Pair of Them 


fused and rather frightened. Till she suddenly 
remembered where she was and, seeing a gar- 
dener at work upon a grass-plot near, decided 
at once that he must be the owner of Max. She 
saw, too, the coat which had formed her pillow 
and knew that he must have placed it there. 
With a glad cry she caught up her crutches and 
swung herself toward the keeper: 

“ Oh ! sir, I thank you. I was so tired and 
the coat was lovely soft. And I know you. 
You’re Mr. Weems, the gardener, and I’ve seen 
Max. He’s at our house, I mean he was — last 
night. And he will be again, ’cause he’s with 
father, who’ll fetch him back. Father just 
loves dogs and animals. And say, please, which 
is Bonny-Gay’s house?” 

“ Bless my soul ! You don’t say ? Then you 
must belong around here, though I didn’t think 
it. You’ve seen Max, and you ask for our 
Bonny-Gay ! Well, you’ve struck trouble both 
times. He’s in trouble enough, but she in worse. 
That’s her home, yonder, on the west corner. 
The green house I call it; with those doctors’ 
carriages in front of it. ” 

“ It is ? Why, how funny. What’s all that 
straw for ? ” 


Mary Jane Goes Visiting 7^ 

The gardener shook his head, sadly, and 
hastily flicked away at his eyes. 

“ That’s to deaden all the noise. Bonny- 
Gay is a very, very sick little girl and there’s 
about one chance in a thousand, folks think, 
for her to get well. She was in an accident, 
yesterday. Got thrown out a carriage. The 
gentleman that took her driving is almost 
crazy with grief about it and — What’s that? 
What’s that you say? You was with her? 
You? And that’s her hat — Upon my word, it 
is. She showed it to me, the very first day 
she had it, while she was out here waiting to 
go driving with her folks. And she’s the only 
one they’ve got. I reckon her poor father 
would give all his millions of dollars and not 
stop a minute to think about it, if he could 
make her well by doing it. Poor man, I pity 
him ! ” 

It was Max did it, you know. I’ve come 
to see her, and you mustn’t tell me she’s so sick 
as that. Why, she was that beautiful to me — 
I— I— ” 

Waiting not an instant longer, and despite 
.the gardener’s warning, Mary Jane clicked 
across the smooth path, over the street, and up 


76 


A Pair of Them 


to the very front door of the mansion, wherein 
lay a precious little form, incessantly watched 
by a crowd of nurses and friends. 

The outer door was ajar, a footman standing 
just within, keeping guard and ready to answer 
in a whisper the constant string of inquiries 
which neighbors sent to make. Past him, while 
he was talking to another, slipped Mary Jane, 
her crutches making no sound upon the thick 
carpet. One thought possessed her, one only; 
and made her almost unconscious of the novel 
scenes about her. Bonny-Gay was ill. Bonny- 
Gay might die. Well, she would have one more 
glimpse of that beloved face, no matter who 
tried to stop her. 

Her brain worked fast. Sick people were 
generally up-stairs; up-stairs she sped. Sick 
folks had to be quiet. She paused an instant 
and peered down the dim corridor. She saw 
that as the people passing along this hall ap- 
proached a distant door they moved even more 
gently and cautiously. In that room, then, lay 
her darling! 

It seemed like the passage of some bird, so 
swift she was and so unerring, for before even 
the most watchful of the nurses could intervene 


77 


Mary Jane Goes Visiting 

she had entered the darkened chamber and 
crossed to a white cot in the middle of it. By 
that time it was too late to stop her. Any noise, 
any excitement, however trivial, might prove 
fatal, the doctors thought. 

Bonny-Gay lay, shorn of her beautiful curls, 
almost as white as her pillows. But the small 
head moved restlessly, incessantly, and the si- 
lence of the night had given place to a delirious, 
rambling talk. All her troubled fancies seemed 
to be of the last scenes she had witnessed : the 
“ Playgrounds,” with the eager children crowd- 
ing them. She was see-sawing with Jimmy 
O’Brien, and hoeing cabbages with the baby. 
She laughed at some inner picture of his absurd 
accidents, and finally, as some peril menaced 
him, raised her shoulders slightly and shrieked : 

Mary Jane ! Oh ! Mary Jane — come 
quick ! ” 

All the watchers caught their breath — 
startled, fearful of the worst. Yet upon the 
silence that followed the cry, there rose the 
sweetest, the gladdest of voices : 

“ Why, yes, Bonny-Gay ! Pve come ! ” 


CHAPTER VI 

THE FLIGHT AND FRIGHT OF MARY JANE 

Again Mary Jane's thoughts had been swift. 
She recalled the fact that “ when Joe Stebbins 
had the fever and talked crazy-like, the doctor 
said we must answer just as if 'twas the way 
he said. 'T would have made him worse to 
argue him different, " and with this reflection 
made her instant response. 

Now Bonny-Gay had either been less ill than 
they fancied, or the crisis had been reached; 
for at that cheerful reply she opened her blue 
eyes and looked into the eager face so near 
them. For a brief time she said no more, seem- 
ing to seek for some explanation of those 
troubled dreams from the steadfast smile of her 
new friend ; then she stretched out her hand and 
Mary Jane caught it rapturously between her 
own palms. 

“ You — you look nice in my hat. But I 
78 


The Flight and Fright of Mary Jane 79 

thought — I thought — I was at your park. Yet 
it's home, isn’t it, after all. How dark it is, and 
how tired I am. I guess I’ll go to sleep a few 
minutes. Though I’m very pleased to see you, 
Mary Jane. ” 

Through the hearts of all in the room shot 
a thrill of thankfulness, yet nobody moved as 
the injured child dropped at once into a quiet 
sleep which meant, the doctors knew, the sav- 
ing of her life and reason. 

Mrs. McClure had kept up bravely, till that 
moment, but now her strength was leaving her 
in the shock of her sudden relief and joy. 

Tell the girl not to move nor draw her 
hand away — till Bonny herself releases it ; ” she 
whispered, as an attendant led her noiselessly 
out of the chamber. 

She did not know how long and difficult a 
task she had set the unwelcome visitor; for 
while she herself sank into a much needed rest 
the sick child still slept that deep, refreshing 
slumber which was to restore her to health. 

The hours passed. The doctors went silently 
away. One nurse took up a watchful position 
near the bed and remained almost as motionless 
as the chair she occupied. A gray-haired man 


8o 


A Pair of I'hem 


appeared at the doorway, took one long, de- 
lighted look at the small figure on the cot, 
barely seeing the other child beside it, and went 
away again. This was the anxious father and 
he moved with the lightness of one from whom 
an intolerable burden has been removed. 

Meanwhile, a second nurse took observation 
now and then of Mary Jane. The position into 
which the cripple had sprung, in her eager clasp 
of Bonny-Gay’s hand, was a trying one. Half- 
bent forward, with no support for any portion 
of her body save that sidewise seat upon the 
foot of the cot, it was inevitable that muscles 
should stiffen and limbs ache, even in a stronger 
frame than Mary Jane’s. Besides that, she was 
very hungry, almost faint. Her slight break- 
fast had been taken very early, and since then 
she had not tasted any food, though it was now 
midafternoon. Presently, she felt her head 
grow dizzy. Bonny-Gay’s face upon the pillow 
appeared to be strangely contorted and the clasp 
of the small hand within her own to become 
vise-like and icy in its grip. She began to 
suffer tortures, all over, everywhere. Even her 
useless legs were prickling and going to 
sleep, ” like any overtaxed limb. She feared 


The Flight and Fright of Mary Jane 8i 

she would fall forward, in spite of all her will, 
and that might mean — death to Bonny-Gay! 
She knew, of her own intuition, that she must 
not move, even without the whispered com- 
mand of Mrs. McClure, and in her heart she 
began to say a little prayer for strength to hold 
herself steady till her task was at an end. 

Then, all at once, she felt that the crutches 
resting against her side were being noiselessly 
lifted away. Somebody, who moved as if on 
air, was putting a rolled up pillow under her 
own tired chest ; another at her side — her back ; 
and beneath the heavy feet a great soft cushion 
that was like her own mother’s lap, for restful- 
ness. 

She turned her head and looked up into the 
kind face of the trained nurse and smiled her 
most grateful smile, for she dared not speak. 
The white-capped woman smiled back and si- 
lently held forward a plate on which was some 
carefully cut up food. Then she forked a mor- 
sel and held it to Mary Jane’s lips, which opened 
and closed upon it with an eagerness that was 
almost greedy, so famished was she. 

How queer it is I ” thought the little girl, 
‘'that anybody should bother that way about 


82 


A Pair of Them 


just me ! ” then swallowed another mouthful of 
the delicious chicken. A bit of roll followed 
the chicken, and after that a glass of milk. 
With every portion so administered, Mary 
Jane's fatigue and dizziness disappeared till, 
by the time the nurse had fed her all that the 
plate contained, she felt so rested and refreshed 
she fancied that she could have sat on thus for- 
ever, if Bonny-Gay had so needed. 

Oh ! how good I feel ! ” 

Bonny-Gay was awake at last, and, of her 
own accord, withdrew her hand from Mary 
Jane’s clasp. 

“ Why — why, is that you, Mary Jane ? Why 
doesn’t somebody make it light in here ? How 
came you — Oh! I remember. You came to see 
me and I went to sleep. I don’t know what 
made me do that. Wasn’t very polite, was it ? 
Now, I’ll get up and be dressed and then we’ll 
play something. ” 

But as she tried to rise she sank back in sur- 
prise. 

“ That’s queer. There’s something the mat- 
ter with me. One of my legs feels — it doesn’t 
feel at all. Seems as if it was a marble leg, 
like ‘ Father George’s. ’ Whatever ails me? ” 


The Flight and Fright of Mary Jane 83 

Mary Jane’s answer was prompt enough, 
though the nurses would have suppressed it if 
they had had time. 

“ I guess it’s broken. That’s all. ” 

Broken ! My leg ? What do you 
mean ? ” 

Oh ! I forgot. You haven’t been real awake 
since it happened. Max — ” 

'' Child ! ” interposed the nurse who had fed 
her. 

Oh! mustn’t I tell?” 

The two white-capped women exchanged 
glances. After all, their patient would have to 
learn about her own condition; and children 
had often ways of their own which proved 
wiser than grown folks thought. 

Ye-s, you may tell. ” 

“ You were thrown out the carriage. Don’t 
you remember? Max had run away to find 
you, and when he did, he didn’t stop to think 
of anything else. He just jumped right into 
the carriage, where you and the Gray Gentle- 
man and the baby and I were all riding splen- 
did. That made the horses afraid and they 
acted bad. You got tumbled out and broke 
your leg. That’s all. ” 


84 


A Pair of Them 


''That’s — all! Why, Mary Jane ! You say 
it as if — as if — you didn’t care ! ” 

Bonny-Gay began to cry, softly. 

"Yes I did say that’s all, because that 
isn’t much. It’s a good job it wasn’t your 
head. A broken leg gets well quick ; quicker’n 
ever if it’s only a little leg like yours. If it 
was your mother’s now, or your father’s, you 
might worry. But, my sake! I wouldn’t 
mind a little thing like that if I were you. 
To lie in this heavenly room, with all the 
pictures and pretty things., and folks to wait 
on you every minute, why — I’d think I was 
the best off little girl in the world if I were 
you. ” 

" But I can’t walk on it, nobody knows when. 
Nor go out-doors, nor — nor — I think you’re a 
mean girl, Mary Jane Bump ! ” 

The cripple was too astonished to reply. She 
had pushed herself from her hard position upon 
the cot’s foot to a chair which the nurse had 
placed for her, and was leaning back in it with 
supreme content. In all her little life she had 
never sat upon anything so luxurious and rest- 
ful. How could any child mind anything, who 
was as fortunate as the daughter of such a 


The Flight and Fright of Mary Jane 85 

home? Astonishment, also, at finding that her 
new friend was not wholly the “ angel she had 
hitherto supposed her to be, kept her silent. But 
she was rather glad to find this out. It made 
the other girl seem nearer to her own level of 
imperfection, and she speedily reflected that 
sick people were often cross, yet didn’t mean 
to be so. 

Bonny-Gay herself swiftly repented her hard 
speech and looking around the room, in- 
quired : 

Did I sleep very long? ” 

“ Yes, dear, a long time. We are all so glad 
of that,” answered the nurse, holding a spoon to 
the patient’s lips, just as she had done' to 
Mary Jane’s, who laughed outright exclaim- 
ing: 

‘‘ That was the funniest thing ! When I was 
holding your hand, Bonny-Gay, she fed me just 
that way, too! Me! Mary Jane Bump! 
Chicken, and biscuit and milk! ’Twas prime, 
I tell you ! ” 

‘‘Fed you? Why?” 

“ ’Cause I was holding your hand and 
couldn’t feed myself. I s’pose she thought, 
maybe, I was hungry. I was, too. ” 


86 


A Pair of Them 


Did you hold it all the time I was asleep, 
Mary Jane? ” 

Yes. Course. You wasn’t to be waked up 
till you did it yourself. ” 

A moment’s silence; then said Bonny-Gay: 
“ I am too ashamed of myself to look at you. 
What must you think of me, Mary Jane ? ” 

I think I love you, dearly. ” 

'' I don’t see how you can, but I’m glad of 
it. Where is my mother, nurse?” 

Mrs. McClure bent over the cot and kissed 
her daughter, murmuring tender words of love 
and delight; and for a space neither remem- 
bered Mary Jane. 

However, she had just remembered her own 
mother and the fact that she had been long'from 
home. Also, that that home lay at the end of a 
long, strange and distracting journey, for one 
so ignorant of travel as she, and that through 
the window she could see that it was already 
twilight. She waited a bit, for a chance to 
bid good-night to Bonny-Gay and to say how 
glad she was that she was better, and to thank 
the nurse for being so kind to herself. But no- 
body seemed to have any thought for her just 
then. 


The Flight and Fright of Mary Jane 87 

The gray haired father had come into the 
room and bent beside his wife over the cot 
where lay their one darling child; and, seeing 
the parents thus occupied with their own feel- 
ings, both nurses had considerately turned their 
backs upon the scene and were busying them- 
selves in arranging the chamber for the night’s 
watch. 

“ I dare not wait a minute longer ! I should 
be afraid, I think, to get in the car alone at 
night. I was hardly ever out after dark. I’d 
like to make my manners pretty, as mother 
said, but I can’t wait.” 

Moved by the same delicacy which had made 
the nurses turn their backs upon the group at 
the bedside, Mary Jane silently picked up her 
crutches and hopped away. Finding the way 
out was easier, even, than finding it in. The 
halls were now all lighted by wonderful lamps 
overhead and the same stately footman stood 
just within the outer entrance. 

“ However did such a creature as this get 
in and I not see her?” he wondered, as the 
little hunchback came swiftly toward him. 
“ Well, better out than in, that’s sure. No 
knowing what harm it would do the little 


88 


A Pair of Them 


missy if she caught sight of an object like 
that!” 

Which shows how little the people who live 
in one house may understand of each other^s 
ideas; and explains the rapidity with which he 
showed Mary Jane through the door and closed 
it upon her. 

After the lighted hallway the outside world 
seemed darker than ever, even though the days 
were yet long and twilight lingered. But to- 
night the sky was clouded and a storm im- 
pending. Already in the west there were 
flashes of lightning, and though, in ordinary, 
Mary Jane delighted in an electric storm, just 
then it made her think the more longingly of 
home and its security. 

Besides, if I should get my fresh clean dress 
all wet, that would make work for mother. Pm 
glad I forgot that hat, though. That’ll have to 
be dry, anyway, now ; and maybe after all, when 
Bonny-Gay gets well she may want it herself. 
It was her mother gave it to me, not her. Now 
which way — I guess this. Oh! I know! I’ll 
find that gardener, Mr. Weems, and he’s so 
nice and kind he’ll show me the way to go. 
Maybe, after all, there is another car goes 


The Flight and Fright of Mary Jane 89 

nearer to Dingy street than that one I took first 
and — There’s a man. It might be him. I’ll 
run and see. ” 

But when she had clicked across the path to 
where the man stood he had already begun to 
move away, and she saw that he was not at all 
like the gardener. So she paused, irresolute, 
trying to recall by which of the several avenues 
leading from it she had entered the Place. 

There were people hurrying homeward in 
each direction, and a few smart equipages were 
whirling past; but nobody paused to glance at 
her, save with that half-shudder of repugnance 
to which she was quite accustomed when she 
met strangers, and that had rarely wounded her 
feelings as it did just then and there. 

Well, I can’t help that. And I don’t mind 
it for myself, not now at all, since I know 
about poor father. He’s the one feels worst for 
it. And that I shall tell him the very minute 
I see him. So let them look and turn away, if 
they wish. Looks don’t hurt, really, and oh! 
dear! if I only could remember the street I 
ought to take. Charles, of course. I know that 
and there it is ; but whether to go to that side or 
this— ” 


90 


A Pair of Them 


In the midst of her perplexity the electric cur- 
rent was turned on and the Place was suddenly 
and noiselessly flooded with a light as of day. 
Courage came back and after another hasty 
scrutiny of the streets, to discover some land- 
mark that she could recall, she saw the monu- 
ment and the lion, and ran toward them as if 
they had been old friends. 

“ Bonny-Gay loves them, and so does the 
Gray Gentleman, and they do look as quiet and 
peaceful as can be. I stopped there, I know, 
and maybe Til think it out better there.” 

Yet even in that reposeful place Mary Jane 
could gain no new ideas as to her course, 
nor was anybody near to whom she could ap- 
ply. 

The gardener had long since gone home for 
the night, and in desperation, Mary Jane de- 
termined to appeal to the very first person who 
came by. This proved to be a young man, with 
a cane and eyeglasses; and he appeared to be 
extremely busy. The little girl thought he 
must also be one of the “ aristocratics ” of 
whom her father spoke so contemptuously, be- 
cause when she had asked him to please tell 
me the way to Dingy street ? ” he had scarcely 


The Flight and Fright of Mary Jane 91 

glanced at her but, had haughtily replied : 
“ Never heard of such a place/' 

Hmm. Too bad. Father says they don't 
any of them know very much, and I'm sorry. 
Don't know where Dingy street is, indeed! 
when I know it myself, even a little girl like 
me and have lived there always. I mean ever 
since I was a baby and we left the country. 
That, mother says, was the mistake we made. 
In the country father didn't drink and lose his 
work. Well, we'll go again, some day, when I 
get big and strong, and can help more with the 
wash. We could earn a lot, mother and me 
together, if I was big." 

She lost herself in her day dreams for a little 
and awoke from them with a start, to find the 
twilight altered to real night, while the electric 
gleams from the lamps overhead were brighter 
than ever and their shadows more like ink upon 
the pavement. Mary Jane had never seen such 
brilliancy as this, and again she forgot herself 
in studying her surroundings and enjoying the 
vivid green of the grass and shrubs. 

A certain clump of flowers, glowing in the 
radiance, attracted her especially and she felt 
that she must put her face down on them, to 


A Pair of Them 


92 

smell them, before she lost sight of them for- 
ever. 

For I don’t s’pose I’ll ever come this way 
again. I couldn’t expect it. Mother couldn’t 
spare the money even if she could me and — 
even if I ever get back to her again ! ” she con- 
cluded, with a frightened sigh. But the beau- 
tiful blossoms enticed her, and in her own down 
town park, which had been thrown open to 
whoever of the poor would enjoy them, there 
were few “ Keep off ” signs and the few quite 
disregarded. This she had explained to Bonny- 
Gay ; and what was true of one park in the city 
should be true of all. 

So she hopped nimbly over the velvet lawn 
to where the flowers gleamed scarlet and white 
and wonderful, and bending above them thrust 
her face deep down into their loveliness. Oh! 
how sweet they were! and so crisp and almost 
caressing in their touch upon her cheek. 

Dear flowers ! I wouldn’t hurt you, you 
know that, don’t you ! I wouldn’t break a sin- 
gle one of you, no, not for anything. Seems 
like you’d feel it if your stems were broken, 
poor things. But I’ll not harm you. No, in- 
deedy. Only I wish — I wish I could just take 


The Flight and Fright of Mary Jane 93 

one tiny, tiny piece home to mother. But I 
wouldn’t break you, even for her ! ” 

“ Well, I guess you’d better not! What are 
you doing here? How dare you come on this 
grass ? Can’t you read the signs ? ” 

Mary Jane looked up, and was immediately 
terrified. It was a policeman who held her 
arm, and all the wild stories she had heard of 
arrests and imprisonment flashed into her mind. 

In Dingy street there was, also, a policeman ; 
but a friendly soul whom all the children loved, 
and whose own home was close to theirs. It 
was he who had saved many a baby’s life, from 
careless passing vehicles, when busy mothers 
had not the time to watch them as they should ; 
and his blue uniform represented to Mary 
Jane’s mind an all-powerful guardian, to whom 
appeal was never made in vain. 

But this six-foot officer, with his glitter and 
dignity, his harsh voice and vise-like clutch — 
this was the majesty of law outraged. 

“ Oh ! what have I done I I didn’t mean it 
— I didn’t — ” gasped the frightened child, and 
wrenching herself loose swung away upon her 
crutches, faster even than the officer could have 
pursued her, even if he had been so minded. 


94 


A Pair of Them 


He did not even attempt to follow her, but 
watched he^ flight, with a chuckle of amuse- 
ment. 

Scared her well, that time, the little va- 
grant. Well, it’s right a lesson was given ’em. 
If every child who wanted to smell the bushes 
was let, what would our parks look like ! ” 

“ Like bits of Paradise, as they should ; ” 

. answered a voice behind him, so suddenly that 
the policeman wheeled about to find himself 
face to face with a resident of the Place him- 
self. 

As for Mary Jane she neither saw whither 
she fled nor scarcely breathed before she had 
collided with a swiftly advancing figure, and 
found both herself and it thrown down. Cap- 
tured after all! Her eyes closed with a snap, 
as there seemed to rise before them the vision 
of a station house, filled with frowning police- 
men, and herself in the midst, a helpless 
prisoner. 


CHAPTER VII 


ON THE WAY HOME 

Well, upon my word ! ’’ 

Mary Jane opened her eyes. Then she rub- 
bed them to see more clearly. Indeed, she rub- 
bed them twice before she made out her mistake 
and was able to say : 

“ Oh ! I am so sorry ! I — I didn’t mean — 
but I can’t be arrested ! I can’t — my mother — 
I—.” 

She scrambled up somehow, picked her 
crutches from the ground and set off again. 
She dared not look behind her but was quite 
sure that the hard-faced policeman was in full 
pursuit. Off she was, indeed, only to be 
brought to a sudden stop, while a shiver of 
fear ran through her. But she made no fur- 
ther outcry and rested quietly upon her wooden 
feet, to hear her doom. 

“Why, you poor little girl! You look 
scared. You haven’t done any harm, not a 
95 


96 


A Pair of Them 


bit. In fact, you’ve saved me quite a chase. 
Pm not so swift as you are, hard as I tried 
to catch you.” 

Mary Jane shivered and still said nothing, 
nor could she lift her eyes from the ground. 
Their gaze rested idly upon the man’s feet and 
she fancied that the gloss upon his shoes 
equalled the radiance of the electric light. 

And now that I have caught you, I want 
to thank you, with all my heart, for your kind- 
ness to my precious child. I believe the good 
Lord sent you, just in the nick of time, with 
your ready answer and your readier sympathy. 
Yet to think that, after all this, you should run 
away, at night and alone. You poor, brave 
little child.” 

Then she heard, through her puzzled under- 
standing, another voice speaking in jesting sur- 
prise. 

“ Turn your back on an old friend, would 
you. Miss Bump! Well, we will have to see 
about that, indeed ! ” 

Those were tones to banish fear ! and now, in 
truth, Mary Jane’s eyes were raised and she 
saw standing there and smiling down upon her 
none other than the Gray Gentleman. 


On the Way Home 


97 


The revulsion of feeling was too much for 
her self-control, and dropping her face against 
his hand she began to cry, with all the abandon 
of those who seldom weep. 

“Why, little girl! What is it? Were you 
so badly frightened as all that? There, there. 
You’re with friends now, child, who love you 
and will take care of you.” 

With that she felt herself lifted in the Gray 
Gentleman’s arms, and her head forced gently 
down upon his shoulder, while her crutches fell 
noisily to the stones. However, they were 
promptly picked up again by the other gentle- 
man, who was also gray — as to hair and beard 
— and who made almost as much noise as the 
crutches, because he kept blowing his nose so 
vigorously. Then she heard him softly slap 
her own Gray Gentleman’s free shoulder and 
exclaim, in a husky voice : 

“ It’s all right, neighbor ! The Lord has 
been good to us. Bonny-Gay is almost her- 
self again and was laughing — actually laugh- 
ing — to see me, her dignified daddy, run out 
of her room to try a race with Miss Mary 
Jane here. Oh! it’s too good to be true!” 
and again there was a tremendous flourish 


98 


A Pair of Them 


of handkerchief, and a sound like a small fog 
horn. 

“ Thank God ! murmured the Gray Gentle- 
man, and Mary Jane felt him tremble. Instinc- 
tively she raised her head to comfort him 
and touched his thin cheek timidly with her 
lips. 

But there was no timidity in the kiss he re- 
turned her as he set her upon the ground, and 
with all his usual cheerfulness, demanded : 

“ Well, little traveler, how do you propose 
to get home again ? ” 

“ I don’t know ! ” The tone was a happy 
one and seemed to mean : And I don’t care ! 
You are to find the way for me! ” 

“You don’t, eh? But I’m thinking that 
good mother of yours will be hungry for a 
sight of your face, and it’s time we remembered 
her. Mothers are queer bodies. They like to 
have their youngsters around them, be they 
never so bothersome. Yet, since she’s waited 
so long, I think it will do no harm for her to 
wait a while longer. I’d like to have you pay 
me a little visit, as well as Bonny-Gay, and 
I’ll invite you to my house to take supper with 


On the Way Home 99 

a lonely old fellow whodl entertain you as well 
as he can/’ 

It was hard to refuse, she would so much 
have liked to see the home of her friend, of the 
friend of all the children whom she knew. But 
the vision of her mother, waiting and anxious, 
was too much for her loyal heart, so she de- 
clined as prettily as she knew how, only ’re- 
questing : 

“ Now, please, you are to tell me the quickest 
way home to Dingy street and I’ll go. You 
must know it, for you’ve been there so often.” 

“ Yes, I know it, and I’ll take you at once. 
I’ll do more. I’ll invite myself to supper with 
you after I get there, since you can’t stop with 
me. ” 

“ Very well,” said Mary Jane, though not 
with much enthusiasm. She was afraid he 
would think her mother’s supper a poor one. 
However, he was quite welcome to what they 
had, and she added more cordially : “ I know 
mother’d think it an honor, only I’d have to 
stop at the baker’s on the way.” 

She didn’t quite understand why both gentle- 
men laughed so heartily. They now seemed in 
LofC. 


lOO 


A Pair of Them 


a mood, each one of them, to laugh at any and 
everything which happened, and Bonny-Gay’s 
father teased the other a little about his great 
appetite, which required the contents of a bake- 
shop to satisfy. Then he added, with a manner 
that admitted of no denial : 

But you’ll have to defer your visit, neigh- 
bor, till another time. I claim the privilege of 
conveying this young lady to her destination, 
and my man has already summoned a cab. 
Here it comes, now; for I’d rather trust a city 
cabby to find out odd places than my own 
coachman.” 

Here came the cab, indeed, and from the 
vine-clad mansion on the corner also came a 
liveried servant bearing a big basket tightly 
covered. 

“ With the mistress’ compliments, and Miss 
Bonny-Gay is sending this to the baby.” 

“ Good enough ! ” answered the happy 
father, and took Mary Jane from the Gray 
Gentleman’s arms ; who handed her crutches in 
after her, and himself closed the door of the 
cab with a cheerful snap. 

Some other time, then, Mary Jane, I’ll ex- 
pect a visit from you. My regards to your 


On the Way Home 


lOI 


mother and I will be down your way before 
long. Good-by.” 

Mary Jane’s head whirled with the strange- 
ness of it all. What a day it had been ! And 
how simple and kind was this gray-haired 
father, who didn’t look half so strong as her 
own absent one, but who talked so fast and 
asked so many questions that, before she at all 
realized what she was doing, the cripple had 
given him their whole family history. Save 
and excepting, of course, anything which re- 
lated to her own affliction and its cause, or any 
possible fault of her beloved father. 

He works — I mean, he did work — for the 
B. & B. railroad folks. He — he — isn’t working 
just now. He went away, for a little while, 
but I guess he’s back again. Won’t he be sur- 
prised to hear all that’s happened to me ? He’ll 
be glad, after all, that she didn’t — Oh! my 
sake I what am I saying I ” 

At mention of the Company, the gentleman 
beside her had given a little start of surprise, 
but Mary Jane fancied that the jolting of the 
cab had moved him. She expressed her regret 
for the accident and added : 

But I like it. I never rode in a carriage 


lOl 


A Pair of Them 


but once before. That was yesterday when 
Bonny-Gay was hurt. But she’ll soon be well, 
now, I think. Don’t you ? ” 

So I trust. So I trust and believe. But, 
tell me a little further of your father. What 
sort of work did he do? I happen to know^ 
something about that company and am inter- 
ested in the details of all its concerns.” 

“ Sometimes he was helping along the 
tracks; straightening them, changing the ties, 
and such things. Sometimes he was over at 
the great sheds they’re building — monstrous 
ones, they are, almost all of steel. You ought 
just to see them by daylight. Though I guess 
I can show them to you even to-night, ’cause 
they’re not so very far from our house.” 

” Indeed ! Did you say what street it was ? 

I heard my neighbor give some directions to 
the driver for us, but paid little attention.” 

“ Dingy street, number 97.” 

“Dingy street! You don’t say! Why, I 
know that locality well. Very well, indeed. A 
great many of — of the Company’s employees 
live around there.” 

“ Most all of them do, I guess. ” 


103 


On the Way Home 

So your father’s out of work, just now? ” 
Yes. But he’ll soon be ' on ’ again, I think. 
When he does work he gets real good wages. 
That is, if he isn’t ‘ docked.’ I reckon the Com- 
pany is pretty strict. My mother says they 
don’t allow for anything. A man must do his 
task or leave it, and that’s the end.” 

“ But that is quite right and just, is it 
not?” 

“ I — suppose — it is. Though poor men can’t 
always — I mean, they get discouraged some- 
times. That makes them do and say things 
they wouldn’t else. It’s queer and unjust, my 
father says, for the Company to have so much 
money and their men so little. That’s what 
made him glad — I mean not so sorry — when — 
when — things happen.” 

Mary Jane paused, confused. Twice she had 
nearly told this other father that her own father 
had been glad when Bonny-Gay had been hurt. 
She knew William Bump would not have said 
anything so cruel if he had not been drinking; 
she was sure of that, for he was generally so 
kind of heart. But even yet she did not im- 
agine that her companion was himself the presi- 


A Pair of Them 


IC4 

dent and head of that Company whose wages 
her father gladly accepted even when he talked 
against it most fiercely. 

However, Mr. McClure greatly enjoyed lis- 
tening to this frank story of the underwork- 
ings of his vast enterprises. He was not only 
a very wealthy and powerful man, he was also 
a wise and just one. He felt the responsibili- 
ties of his position, and made it his business 
to know all employees by name and character, 
so far as that was possible. Over this particu- 
lar portion of his affairs, right in his own city, 
he had an almost daily supervision, and he 
knew William Bump, in some respects, much 
better than this loyal little daughter did. His 
opinion of the father was very poor, and he had 
himself given orders, on the previous day, that 
the said William was never again to be taken 
on by his managers, “ not in any capacity what- 
soever.” 

For some distance the gentleman made no 
response to Mary Jane's last remark, aud the 
silence was broken only by the roll of their own 
wheels, the ordinary sounds of the streets 
through which they passed, and the increasing 
rumble of the thunder. The storm was draw- 


On the Way Home 105 

ing nearer and he wished to escape it, if pos- 
sible. He signalled the driver, after a while, 
and seeming to rouse himself from some deep 
thought, to : “ Make haste ! 

The cabman lashed his horses into a gallop, 
and remembering the accident of her one other 
ride, Mary Jane began to grow afraid. She 
was afraid now, also, of this silent gentleman 
beside her and longed for her journey to end. 
To pass the time she tried to count the lamps 
on the street corners as they flew past her in 
the gloom, and to watch for the illuminating 
flashes of lightning, which came faster and 
faster. 

Suddenly, into this silence, Mr. McClure 
hurled a stern question, that compelled a truth- 
ful reply, whether she liked to give it or no. 

“ Mary Jane, of what was your father glad 
when that accident occurred ? 

She caught her breath in alarm; then an- 
swered, frankly: 

“ He was glad because — because Bonny-Gay 
was hurt.’’ 

Why?” 

“ Oh ! I don’t know. I mean — I guess he 
was so sorry about me — being like I am — and 


io6 A Pair of Them 

he thought it wasn't fair. She was as beauti- 
ful and perfect as I was — was ugly; and her 
father had all the money and he had none. But 
it wasn’t right and it wasn’t him. Indeed, in- 
deed, it wasn’t. He didn’t know you, of course, 
and he didn’t dream that you could love her 
same as he loves me. But he’d be the first — the 
very first — to be sorry, after he came to him- 
self.” 

“ Hmm. No man, rich or poor, has a right 
ever to be other than himself.” 

“ I suppose not. But things haven’t gone 
right with father since we came from the coun- 
try.” 

Humph ! ” was the contemptuous comment, 
and the little girl said no more. 

Oh ! if they would only ever get to 97 Dingy 
street! Twice, now, she had been allowed the 
luxury of a carriage ride and each time how 
wretched she had been. At first she had liked 
Bonny-Gay’s father almost as much as she had 
the Gray Gentleman, when she first knew that 
good friend. She had chattered away to him 
almost as freely; yet after awhile he had al- 
lowed her to keep up the chatter rather for his 
own information than because he had seemed 


On the Way Home 107 

interested in her affairs. He was now become 
so stern and indifferent that she realized she 
had deeply offended him. To her relief, the 
cab turned sharply around the next corner and 
there she was, at last, in dear, familiar Dingy 
street, with its tiny houses that were yet homes ; 
in one of which was mother Bump, her four 
sisters, and the wonderful baby ! Possibly, 
also, her father; though of him she thought 
less, just then, than of the motherly face 
which was, to her, the comeliest in all the 
world. 

The cab stopped with a jerk. The cabman 
leaped down and opened the door. Then he 
lifted out the covered basket, and afterward 
swung Mary Jane to the ground and supported 
her till the gentleman who remained inside the 
vehicle handed out her crutches. 

The house door flew open, also, at the sound 
of wheels, and Mrs. Bump peered out into the 
night. 

What is it ? ” she called, her voice trem- 
bling with anxiety. That a carriage should stop 
before her humble home foreboded harm to 
some of her loved ones, and her first thought 
was of her crippled daughter. 


io8 


A Pair of Them 


“ Here am I, Mother ! Home at last ; ” an- 
swered that daughter’s voice, cheerily. 

Then she turned to thank Mr. McClure for 
his kindness to her, but he did not hear her, 
apparently. The cab was already being whirled 
around, and the driver lashing his horses. A 
brilliant gleam of lightning, followed instantly 
by a terrific clap of thunder, startled them into 
a thought of shelter only. Mrs. Bump saw 
through the cab window that the gentleman 
raised his hat, then she seized the basket from 
the ground, and hurried Mary Jane indoors, 
just as the first great drops of a heavy shower 
came dashing down. 

“ Oh ! mother Bump ! I never saw such a 
lovely place as this dear old home ! How glad 
I am to be here. Has father come yet ? ” 

“ Not yet, dearie. But he will soon, no 
doubt.” 

“ I hope he isn’t anywhere out in this storm ; 
poor father.” 

“ Bless you, child ! The man has sense, 
hasn’t he? Even dumb creatures know enough 
to go in when it rains. But tell me fast, dar- 
ling, all that’s happened to you since you went 
away. My heart! this has been the longest 


On the Way Home 109 

day I ever knew ! have you had anything to eat ? 
What made you so late ? How came you to be 
riding home in such grand style? and where 
got you this basket ? 

'' It's the baby’s, mother. Bonny-Gay sent 
it to him ; ” cried the happy girl, running to 
seize that crowing infant from his trundle-bed 
and to cover his face with kisses. Then she 
dropped her crutches and herself upon the floor, 
drew the baby to her lap, and from that lowly 
position began a swift, but rather mixed his- 
tory of events since she had said good-by and 
hopped away in the morning. 

The mother listened, losing never a word, 
and deftly simplifying matters now and then by 
a leading question, while at the same time she 
explored the big basket. It had evidently been 
filled in haste, and by the direction of Bonny- 
Gay, herself. 

This is for the baby, is it ? ” laughingly 
demanded Mrs. Bump, lifting out a great loaf 
of rich cake, carefully wrapped in waxed paper. 

Fine food for a year-old, that is. And this ? 
and this? My heart, but whoever filled this 
basket had a generous streak ! ” 

A fine roasted chicken, mate to that of which 


no 


A Pair of Them 


Mary Jane had already partaken, it might be, 
followed the cake. Then came a picture-book, 
a jumble of toys, a box of candy, and an odd 
mixture of the things nearest at hand, and of 
which the sick child could think. 

But crowning all these gifts, and the only 
one packed with any attempt at care, was the 
beautiful leghorn hat, with its nodding ostrich 
plumes and its general air of elegance. 

“ The darling, the darling ! She did mean 
me to keep it, then! cried Mary Jane, so de- 
lightedly that the baby immediately pat-a-caked 
with noisy vigor. 

Of course, even though they had long since 
enjoyed their ordinary supper, the watchful 
children were not to be put -off without at least 
a taste of the baby’s good things ; so the mother 
cut and divided with exact equality; and after 
a feast so hilarious that it brought Joe Stebbins 
in from next door to see what was the matter, 
everybody was sent to bed ; even the tired Mary 
Jane, whose heart seemed brim full of both joy 
and anxiety. 

She had explained to her mother how she 
had chattered to Mr. McClure, hiding nothing, 


Ill 


On the Way Home 

even her unwise statement of William Bump’s 
animosity toward the other, happier father. 

Mrs. Bump had listened quietly, and she had 
pooh-poohed the little girl’s regrets! but her 
heart sank. Mr. McClure was the name of the 
head of the Company. She knew that, though 
Mary Jane did not; and she realized that her 
husband’s last chance of reinstatement in the 
Company’s employ had been ruined by the very 
one who would have sacrificed her very self to 
do him good. 

Poor little daughter ! But she must never 
know. Never. It would break her loving 
heart I And it matters little now whether Wil- 
liam comes home or not ! ” sighed the troubled 
wife and mother, as she laid her own weary 
head on her pillow for the night. 


CHAPTER VIII 

CONFIDENCES 

'' Oh ! I am so tired ! If I could only just 
get up once ! ’’ sighed Bonny-Gay. 

Sick folks always have to stay in bed. 
How'd they look, sitting up, I’d like to know? ” 
answered Mary Jane. 

“ But I’m not sick. I’m not sick one bit. 
I’m just as well as — as that parrot, yonder.” 

Tell the truth, tell the truth, tell the truth ! ” 
shrieked Polly. 

Mary Jane laid down the thirteenth doll and 
clapped her hands to her sides. “ That bird is 
the absurdest thing. He makes me laugh till 
I ache. ” 

‘‘ That’s a story, that’s a story ! ” corrected 
Poll. 

No, it isn’t ! No, it isn’t ! No, it isn’t ! ” 
mocked Mary Jane, gaily. 

Bonny-Gay laughed, too, and cried out: 

II2 


Confidences 


113 

“ Mary Jane, you’re the very nicest girl I 
know ! ” 

“ Thank you. That’s a dear thing for you 
to say. But you’re partial, like mother. Be- 
sides, there isn’t any other girl here, just now.” 

But I mean it. There isn’t another girl in 
the world would come here and be shut up in 
the house, day after day, just to amuse me, 
’cause my leg’s broken, except you.” 

‘‘ Yes, there is,” said Mary Jane, confidently. 
Who?” 

You ! ” 

'' Oh ! you funny child ! ” 

^‘Wouldn’t you? If you and I were each 
other — I mean changed places and I was the 
sick one, wouldn’t you ? ” 

Maybe. I don’t know. I never did like 
indoors and would never stay in if I could help 
it. Do you s’pose it will be very long now ? ” 
No, I guess not. Not if you’re good and 
lie still. Wait. I’ll bring all the playthings 
around to that other side the bed and that 
will rest you. You’ve been looking out this 
way a good while now.” 

So Mary Jane industriously hopped around 
and transported the thirteen dolls, the bird 


A Pair of Them 


114 

cages, and the parrot stand to a new position, 
and leaning on her crutches gently helped the 
sick child to turn about as far as she was per- 
mitted to do. A trained nurse was still always 
in the room, and Mrs. McClure herself passed 
in and out very frequently; but it was Mary 
Jane who did most for her friend ; Bonny-Gay 
declaring that, “ Next to Mamma ” there was 
nobody who understood her whims and desires 
without being told them, as the little cripple 
did. 

That’s because we’re just an age, I guess. 
Queer, wasn’t it? That you, up in this big 
house, and me down in my dear little one, 
should both be sent to our folks the very same 
day that ever v/as? ^Sunday bairns’ should 
be the best ones in the world, my mother says. 
Only, I wasn’t in my Dingy street house when 
I came. I was in the country ; ” and for some 
unexplained reason Mary Jane’s sunny face 
clouded suddenly. 

For weeks now, and because Bonny-Gay had 
** taken such an extreme fancy to her ” — as 
Mrs. McClure had herself explained to Mrs. 
Bump, when she herself went to ask the favor 
of Mary Jane’s attendance in the sick room — 


Confidences 


115 

the helpful child had spent the greater portion 
of each day there. It had become quite a mat- 
ter of habit in Dingy street that a carriage 
should roll up to the door of 97 and that Mary 
Jane should go away in it; to be returned at 
six o’clock precisely, of the same afternoon. 
Dingy street felt itself proud of this state of 
things, and every householder held her head 
a bit higher because of it. Who’d ever have 
dreamed that their own small hunchback would 
get to be ^‘carriage folks?” Well, there was 
no telling when such glory might not fall to 
their own lot, and she’d do them all credit 
wherever she went, she had such pretty, loving 
ways with her. That she had. 

Now, it was sometimes an inconvenience to 
the McClure household that this trip must be 
made twice a day ; and that very morning Mrs. 
McClure entered the chamber to speak with 
Mary Jane about it. She had now overcome 
her first repugnance at sight of the deformed 
little body and saw only the sweet face and 
helpfulness. She had, also, offered Mrs. Bump 
some compensation for her daughter’s serv- 
ices; just the same as any other nurse’s; ” but 
the poorer mother gently declined. 


A Pair of Them 


1 16 

“ If the dear Lord has given her a chance to 
do something for your girl, whom she so loves, 
I guess He means it as a sort of compensation 
to her for her own afflictions. No, indeed, Mrs. 
McClure, I wouldn’t like to taint the sympathy 
between those two by any thought of money.” 

To this there could be no answer, and so the 
matter rested. 

“ Mary Jane, we begin to feel almost as if 
you belonged with us, you have been so kind 
and good to Bonny-Gay; and what do you say 
to staying up here at night, now ? At least for 
a few nights together, with then one at home? ” 
asked the lady, as she sat down beside the cot 
and watched the undressing of the china sev- 
enth doll, preparatory to its bath. 

Mary Jane looked up quickly, with a sort of 
fear coming into her telltale face. 

Oh ! I shouldn’t like that. I mean — of 
course, you’re very kind — but I’d have to go 
home. I would, indeed.” 

'' It’s not kindness on my part, especially. 
I thought it might save trouble to both sides ; 
but, never mind. We’ll go on as usual, for the 
present; though I wish you would speak to 
your mother about it, when you see her, this 


Confidences 


117 

evening. Now, Bonny-Gay, I have to go out. 
Is there anything you fancy, that I can bring 
you? I shall be at market and do some shop- 
ping. Think and see, darling.” 

Bonny-Gay’s eyes had rested searchingly 
upon Mary Jane’s face. She would have been 
delighted herself if her playmate could have 
remained all the time in the Place, but she saw 
the sudden fear and was puzzled by it. Yet 
she did not urge the matter, and the onl^ re- 
quest she made of her indulgent mother was : 

“ Just bring something new for the baby.” 

Ap-ain Mary Jane’s face was troubled and 
she exclaimed : 

''Please, Bonny-Gay don’t! He has too 
many things already, that you have sent him. 
I’d rather not, please.” 

" Very well,” said Mrs. McClure, as she 
kissed her little girl and went away. But she 
was considerably annoyed. She felt that she 
did not exactly " know how to deal with that 
class of people,” to which Mary Jane belonged. 
She wished that Bonny-Gay had not taken this 
absurd fancy of hers. She wished that the 
Gray Gentleman had never done that unwise 
thing of carrying her daughter into the region 


ii8 


A Pair of Them 


and knowledge of Dingy street. It was all 
very well for him to devote his time still, as 
he had all his life and fortune, toward making 
the lives of poor children brighter. Everybody 
must have a hobby, and that was his, she sup- 
posed. Of course, he was a noble man, and 
his name was known far and wide as that of a 
philanthropist. Still — Hmm. It would soon 
end, anyway. Bonny-Gay was improving rap- 
idly, and was so perfectly healthy that there 
was nothing to fear. And if she needed her 
own carriage that evening, and Mary Jane re- 
mained still obstinate, she must be sent home 
in a cab. That was all. 

With these thoughts she departed, but she 
had in some way left an altered atmosphere be- 
hind her. Her difficulty in understanding “ that 
class of people ” arose from the simple fact 
that she had, as yet, no real sympathy with 
them. It seemed to her that they were alto- 
gether different from herself; that they were 
duller, less capable of any true nobility. But 
she was, in reality, kind and good at heart, with 
many social cares to tax her nerves, and she 
was one day to have her present ignorance en- 
lightened. 


Confidences 


119 

In the silence that followed her exit, Bonny- 
Gay’s hand stole softly out and touched Mary 
Jane’s cheek, down which a tear was rolling. 
And in the child’s touch was that perfect sym- 
pathy which the mother’s tone had lacked. 

“ Don’t cry, Mary Jane. He’ll come back.” 

Mary Jane’s head lifted instantly and her 
face brightened. 

“ How’d you know ’twas that I was think- 
ing about? ” 

“ Oh ! I knew. After a minute. Not just 
at first. Mother didn’t understand. I don’t 
s’pose she’s heard yet that he was gone. Move 
up nearer. Fix yourself comf ’table. Let’s 
talk, instead of play dolls, now. ” 

Mary Jane pushed her low chair to the 
side of the cot, so close now that she could 
rest her head against Bonny-Gay’s own pil- 
low. 

“ Tell the truth, tell the truth, tell the truth ! ” 
admonished Polly, and in their laughter at his 
opportune command they failed to hear that 
somebody had entered the room and sat down 
quite near them. This was Bonny-Gay’s father, 
and he liked sometimes to surprise her by an un- 
expected visit of this sort, as well as to listen 


120 


A Pair of Them 


to the innocent chatter of this pair of “ Sun- 
day bairns. ” 

“ How long is it, Mary Jane? ’’ 

“ It was the very day you were hurt. Two 
whole weeks. ’’ 

“ Well. That’s all right. Max is with him, 
isn’t he ? ” 

“ I don’t know. He went away with him. 
They both felt bad, I guess. That made them 
like to be together. Father’s powerful fond of 
dogs, any way. ” 

“ And of the country, you said, too. I s’pose 
he’s in the country somewheres.” 

“ But where ! I do want to see him so much. 
There is something I must tell him. Some- 
thing he thinks is wrong, something that made 
him feel bad but should not. Something — Oh ! 
I’ve seen all through things so clear, since he 
went. Every time he saw me I s’pose he was 
reminded that — My sake! What am I saying. 
But I’m so sorry about your mother not liking 
to send for me. I must have bothered her no 
end. I wouldn’t have come only — ” 

“ You wouldn’t have come? Why, it was I 
who wanted you, who must have you. Don’t 
you know, you are my ‘ twin sister ? ’ It’s all 


Confidences 


I2I 


right. Mother would give me anything to have 
me pleased. Don't think a thing about that. 
Let’s talk about the rest. Say, Mary Jane, 
say ! ” Excitedly. 

“ There you are. Off you go ! Have a 
care ! ” warned Polly. 

Oh ! keep still, you bird. Listen, Mary 
Jane. You know I’m going to the country, 
don’t you? We all are, just as soon as I get 
well. ” 

Yes. I think it will be just lovely for you. ” 
“For you, too, you go with me and — find 
him ! ” almost shouted Bonny-Gay. 

“ Oh ! you darling ! Might I ? ” 

“ Course. Why shouldn’t you? My father 
owns a lot of country. Ever and ever so much. 
He has so much he says it’s a sin and shame it 
isn’t doing anybody any good. But he’s too 
busy to tend to it himself and he can’t trust 
many folks. They would waste his money, 
dreadful. There’s our big house and park, and 
all the gardens and things; and then there are 
fields and fields and fields. Miles of them, I 
guess. Just as like as not he’s gone around 
there some place. Just supposing! If he has, 
why, pooh! You could find him in a minute. 


122 


A Pair of Them 


Oh ! you must go with me and look. It won’t 
be so long, maybe. If this old leg would only 
get itself well. I love the country. It’s all out- 
doors there. ” 

Mary Jane said nothing, but her face was 
rapturous with anticipation. Finally, Bonny- 
Gay announced: 

I guess that’s all settled, then. There’s 
nothing to do about it only ask our folks. 
Let’s make believe things. Let’s pretend we 
had all the money in the world and could 
do just what we wanted to with it; what 
would you do, first? ” 

“ Why, I wouldn’t dare think. ’Cause it 
couldn’t ever come true, you know. ” 

“ Supposing it couldn’t ? The things that 
don’t come true are the sweetest things there 
are, I think. You begin. ” 

Mary Jane drew a deep breath. Under the 
inspiration of this other more imaginative child, 
she was fast forgetting the hard, dry facts of 
life; and whether this were best or no, it was, 
at least, delightful. 

“ Well, I’d go to your father and I’d pay him 
money, and I’d get all those miles and miles of 
country to do with exactly as I pleased. Then 


Confidences 


123 


rd take some more of the money and Td get 
the men that build houses to make a house, 
right in the very prettiest spot there ever was. 
Where there was water if I could, ^cause my 
father, he's so fond of fishing. He's quit work, 
lots of times, to go fishing down the bay. I'd 
buy him a fish-pole and lines and hooks. I'd 
buy him and mother a cow and a horse and a 
market-wagon. They had a market-wagon 
once, but a man came along and told him he 
could make more money in the city ; and he sold 
their things and lost the little farm and came. 
He'd be all right if he was back in that country, 
I guess. I'd like to see it, myself. " 

The eager speaker stopped short. Again she 
had almost revealed what no loyal daughter 
should, — a parent's fault. But Bonny-Gay was 
so interested, she seemed so to know before- 
hand what was in a body's mind that words 
slipped out of themselves. 

“ Have a care. Tell the truth ! " adjured 
Polly. 

“ Of course I will, " answered the cripple. 

Now, Bonny-Gay, it's your turn. What 
would you do if you had all the money and 
could ? " 


124 


A Pair of Them 


The unseen father leaned forward a little. 
He was profoundly interested in any possible 
desires his darling might express, and, for the 
matter of that, she rarely did ask for anything. 
Maybe, because almost all desirable things came 
to her without the asking. 

“ I hardly know. Yes, I do, too. Pd buy 
all the parks in this city and in every other one. 
Pd hunt up all the little children in the cities. 
Pd make free ^ Playgrounds ’ for them, every 
one. Even the little girls should have their 
little cunning ' farms, ’ just the same. I guess 
they’d want to plant flowers, though, wouldn’t 
they ? instead of cabbages and limas. Then Pd 
take all the grown-ups who wanted to go into 
the country and couldn’t, and Pd send them. 
And Pd let them stay a whole week, I guess. 
If I could. If there was room enough. And 
when Christmas came Pd have everybody that 
was poor come to my house, just like the Gray 
Gentleman does to the halls he hires, and Pd 
make them as happy as — I am. I wouldn’t let 
anybody in the whole wide world be sick nor 
sorry; I wouldn’t let anybody hurt nice dogs 
or turn them out of their own parks ; and — Oh ! 


Confidences 


1125 

Mary Jane, do you s’pose we’ll ever see dear 
old Max again?” 

‘‘Why, Bonny-Gay? Didn’t you just make 
me feel ’t he was right with father? Course, 
then, when father comes he’ll come; and if you 
aren’t well by that time I’ll coax father to lead 
him up here to see you. If he’ll be coaxed ; ” 
she added gravely. 

The child on the cot glanced through the 
window. “ There goes the Gray Gentleman, to 
see ‘ Father George ’ and the lion. I wish he’d 
come to see me; but he’s afraid my mother 
blames him for taking me that day, I think, 
though nobody ever said so. ” 

“ I’ll go ask him ! ” 

Before she could be stopped, Mary Jane 
hopped across the room and down to the door. 
Mr. McClure rose with considerable noise and 
approached the cot. He had been deeply 
touched by the fact that neither of the two inno- 
cently dreaming “ Sunday bairns ” had planned 
anything for her own especial gratification. 
The witness of such unselfishness was refresh- 
ing in a world such as that wherein most of his 
waking hours were passed. 


126 


A Pair of Them 


‘‘Well, little woman, how goes it? Getting 
well, fast?” 

Bonny-Gay held up her arms to be loved. 

“ Fine, father dear. It won’t be long be- 
fore I’m out in the park again, watching for 
you to come home from business. ” 

They found so much to say to each other 
that they quite forgot Mary Jane; who had, in- 
deed, swung across the square to intercept the 
path of her friend. She had something of her 
own to say to the Gray Gentleman besides de- 
livering her playmate’s message. She was in 
trouble and knew that he would help her in 
some way too wise for her to think of. 

“ Well, upon my word ! If here isn’t Mary 
Jane! I thought I heard a cheerful little 
clicke-e-ty-click, such as only one small ener- 
getic body could make. What’s it now. Miss 
Bump?” 

“ I’d like to talk to you, please. ” 

“ Don’t doubt I need it. Yet if the ‘ talking 
to ’ is to be very severe. I’d like to have the sup- 
port of the lion. Let’s rest against him. That’s 
comfortable. Now, my child — talk! ” 

“ First off, Bonny-Gay wants you to come 
and see her. ” 


Confidences 


iiy 

Shall be delighted, Fm sure. Please make 
my regards to Miss McClure and I will wait 
upon her at any hour she designates. ” Which 
dignified yet whimsical remark set Mary Jane to 
smiling. 

“ Fm glad that’s fixed before I forgot. Be- 
cause Fm in dreadful trouble, myself. ” 

“You look it!” he exclaimed, smiling into 
her confiding face; then dropped his playful 
manner as he saw that she was really in earnest. 

Whereupon she promptly told him about 
Mrs. McClure and why, in anticipation of her 
father’s possible return, she must, she must go 
home every night. “ And how can I ? I mustn’t 
put them out — they are so good to me. I 
mustn’t stay away, if Bonny-Gay needs me. 
There’s all the dolls to be dressed, you see ; and 
the canaries must be fed, or they’d die; and 
Polly is about as much care as the baby. She’s 
always dropping things and squawking till she 
gets them picked up for her — though she throws 
them right straight down again. I don’t see 
how Bonny-Gay can be so patient with that 
bird, do you ? ” 

“ Fm sure I shouldn’t be. ” 

“ So, I couldn’t not come, course. And what 


128 


A Pair of Them 


I want you to tell me, please, is there a shorter 
way I could come? So I could walk here? 
'Cause I couldn't ride in the car. We couldn't 
afford that." 

If you would ride in the car I know, with- 
out asking, that Mrs. McClure would be more 
than glad to bear the expense. " 

“ But father wouldn't like that. He never 
likes me to have rich folks do things for me. 
He — he seems to about hate them. He 
wouldn't let me go to the Empty Stocking 
Trees, 'cause he does. You're the only one he 
doesn't mind. And he likes the ‘ Playgrounds ' 
'cause they're not charity. They belong to the 
city and we do, same's the rich ones. They 
teach the children to work and learn farming, 
too. He likes that. But I couldn't take the 
money from her. I wouldn't so displease him, 
even if I had to stay away." 

The Gray Gentleman pondered deeply. He 
would not offend the confiding child by offer- 
ing himself to pay her car fare. He too greatly 
respected her honest pride and her loyalty to 
her father to do that. But, after a moment, he 
looked up. 

Miss Mary Jane Bump, once before I in- 


Confidences 


129 


vited you to call at my house and you declined. 
Now, I invite you again. I think I have some- 
thing there that will solve your difficulties — 
and my own. May I have the pleasure? Til 
detain you from the Poll parrot but a few mo- 
ments.’’ 

“Oh! I’d love it!” 

It was a very cheerful click the crutches gave 
now. The mere telling of her perplexities had 
half-banished them, and Mary Jane had implicit 
faith in the wisdom of this simple, true-hearted 
gentleman, who was, as Mrs. McClure had re- 
flected, “ the friend of all poor children every- 
where.” 

The Gray Gentleman’s big, empty, plainly 
furnished house, seemed very lonely to the little 
girl, whose own small home was so crowded; 
and she wondered at the slowness of the one 
colored “ boy ” — as gray as his master — who 
answered that master’s ring. 

“ Boy, go upstairs, please, to my bedroom. 
Open the top drawer of the chiffonier and bring 
me all the socks you find there. You’d better 
use a basket— they are many in number.” 

The “ Boy ” half fancied that his master had 
lost his common sense, then leaped to the con- 


130 


A Pair of Them 


elusion that this was probably one of their many 
pensioners upon whom the articles demanded 
were to be bestowed. He obeyed without com- 
ment, however, save by a respectful bow; and 
soon returned. Meanwhile Mary Jane had 
been shown the few pictures upon the walls and 
told their stories, and the place had begun to 
seem more cheerful to her. 

The “ Boy ” was dismissed ; the basket 
heaped with fine hosiery placed on the table 
beside the visitor, and herself bidden to look 
the contents over. 

“ What do you think of them, Mary Jane? ” 

“ I never knew one person have so many 
stockings; and, my sake, there isn’t a single 
pair but has a hole in it — not one single sock, 
even. I know. I guess you want me to mend 
them for you, don’t you ? I often help mother 
with the darning. She thinks I can do it quite 
well.” 

“ I’m sure you can, and that is just what I 
do want. I cannot put on a ragged garment, 
poor old fellow though I am. They always 
come from the laundry, broken somewhere, 
and I am always buying new. That’s how I 


Confidences 


131 

have so many. If you want to save my money 
for me you can do it.’’ 

I’d love to ! I’ll take them home and fix 
them nights, after Bonny-Gay is through with 
me.” 

“ Let’s be business like, Miss Bump. What 
would be your charges, per pair ? ” 

“My — charges? Nothing. I’d be so glad 
to do something for you, who have always been 
doing things for me.” 

“ I’ve known you a few weeks, little girl, 
and I’ve done very little. Will five cents a pair 
be satisfactory ? ” 

“ I couldn’t take so much. I couldn’t take 
anything.” 

“ That or nothing. I’m business. That 
would make you quite independent of all help 
except your own, and be a great benefit to me.” 

“ Of course, then. And oh ! thank you ! ” 

“ Now, pack up your work, little bread-win- 
ner, and let’s back to Bonny-Gay.” 


CHAPTER IX 


BY THE STRENGTH OF LOVE 

The days sped by. The summer heat deep- 
ened and there were thankful hearts in the vine- 
covered mansion in Mt. Vernon Place. For 
Bonny-Gay was well again; able to run about 
her beloved park, and to play in the shadow 
of the lion with the few children left still in 
that part of the city. 

Nearly all the big houses were now closed, 
however, and their owners departed to seashore 
or mountain. The McClures themselves were 
making preparations for their own summer 
flitting to the great country house of which the 
little girls had talked. They would have still 
enjoyed being together, but that could no 
longer be. 

A very few days after Mary Jane had made 
her business contract with the Gray Gentleman, 
and he had himself spoken to the conductors of 


132 


133 


By the Strength of Love 

the cars upon which she would have to take 
her daily ride — so that everything was 
made easy and safe for her — those rides had 
ceased. William Bump returned as suddenly 
as he had departed, and, with all his old enmity 
against more fortunate folk, had immediately 
forbidden them. 

But Mrs. Bump had herself gone to Mrs. 
McClure and explained enough of matters to 
prove that Mary Jane was neither ungrateful 
nor forgetful ; and Mrs. McClure had accepted 
the explanation with great cheerfulness. It was 
a much easier way out of a difficult position 
than she had anticipated; because Bonny-Gay 
still talked about inviting Mary Jane with 
them to the country, and this her mother did 
not at all desire. 

However, a compromise was effected. Mary 
Jane was to be asked to care for the thirteen 
dolls, the two canaries, the aquarium, and 
Polly; only the pony being allowed to accom- 
pany his little mistress on her summer outing. 
So, one morning, the carriage came around 
again and all these creatures were stowed in 
it, along with Bonny-Gay and a maid. They 
had been taken straight to Dingy street, where 


134 


A Pair of Them 


they were left with many injunctions and much 
sage advice, as to their proper care. Then the 
two little “ Sunday bairns ” had kissed each 
other many times, and had torn themselves 
weeping from each other's embrace, while the 
dignified maid looked coldly on, urging : 

If you please. Miss McClure, you would 
much better be going. The train goes at two 
o'clock and there’s much to pack, still." 

“ Very well, Hawkins. I'm coming. Good- 
bye, Mary Jane, dear, dear Mary Jane! I'll 
write you as soon as I get there and maybe, 
maybe, your father and my mother will let 
you come out to our house and make me a beau- 
tiful long visit. I'd teach you to ride on the 
pony just the same as if your legs were good, 
or in the goat cart or — " 

Come, come, Miss Bonny-Gay ! " called 
Hawkins. 

The coachman cracked his whip, there was a 
last glimpse of a bare sunny head thrust from 
the carriage window, the tossing of ecstatic 
kisses, and Bonny-Gay had passed out of Mary 
Jane’s life, probably forever. That is, if the 
intentions of her parents could be carried out. 


By the Strength of Love 135 

When they returned, in the autumn, a man 
could be dispatched for the dolls and things, if 
their owner still desired them. If not, they 
might remain the property of the small Bumps, 
and so well rid of them. The parrot had been 
misbehaving of late, and using expressions not 
wholly suited to the proprieties of Mt. Vernon 
Place. Originally owned and trained by a man 
of the “ slums,” she was returning to the rude 
speech of earlier years. 

But she was well received in the Bump house- 
hold, save by William, its head. He had 
frowned upon the coming into it of Bonny- 
Gay’s treasures and only consented to the ar- 
rangement because of Mary Jane’s disappoint- 
ment. For ever since his return the father and 
daughter had been always together and each 
seemed doubly anxious to do nothing that 
would give the other pain. And after a time, 
even he became interested in the queer bird and 
joined his children in inciting it to talk; though 
his interest was not fully won until there 
sounded along the street a familiar cry, to 
which nobody paid much heed except Polly. 

She was suddenly transformed. She flut- 


A Pair of Them 


136 

tered her feathers, stretched her neck, cocked 
her head on one side, and in a tone that was 
almost human in its mimicry burst forth : 

“ Crab-crab-crab-crab — crab-crab-crab ! De- 
vil-devilled-devil-devilled-crabs ! Heah’s-de- 
crab-man ! Is yo’ hongry ? Crab-man-goin’-to- 
baid-now ! Dis yo’ las' chance for yo’ nice-fried- 
hot-fried-devil-devilled-crabs I C-R-A-B-S ! 
OU-OU-OUCH!" 

After which remarkable exploit mistress 
Polly became the idol of Dingy street and even 
of William Bump. 

The disposition of her new charges, so that 
they should not take up too much space in her 
little home, and the careful packing away in the 
top-cupboard of the food Bonny-Gay had pro- 
vided for her pets, kept Mary Jane busy all 
morning; and her mother had dinner on the 
table before she observed how the time had 
flown. But when she heard the cheerful sum- 
mons : 

Come, father. Come children ! ” and 
smelled the freshly cooked fish, she realized 
that she had given more attention than she 
meant to her new cares. 

“ Oh! mother, I didn’t think I was so long! 


137 


By the Strength of Love 

And I wanted to get my part the ironing done ; 
because I promised Bonny-Gay that Fd go to 
the park, if you could spare me, and watch her 
train go by. It's that fast express, that whizzes 
so; but she’s to sit on the park side the parlor 
car, she called it, and she’s to watch for me and 
I for her. She’ll wave and I’ll wave and that 
will be our really last good-by. Till she comes 
home again.” 

‘'That would be how-de-do? Wouldn’t it, 
child? And the ironing’s all right. I’ve done 
that so, if father wants to go watch the men 
this afternoon, you can go with him. Now eat 
your dinner and be thankful for all your bless- 
ings.” 

Everybody was always hungry at that table 
and the dinner was soon over. Then William 
Bump arose, put on his hat, whistled to a big 
black dog who lay on the door step and started 
off for his afternoon of loafing. 

Mary Jane watched the pair with a pitying 
love. 

“ Those two seem just alike, some ways, 
don’t they mother? Father lost his home and 
his work and so did Max. Dearly as Bonny- 
Gay loves that dog, ever since he got her hurt, 


A Pair of Them 


138 

he doesn’t want to be with her like he used. 
Didn’t you notice, this morning? When she 
hugged him and bade him good-by, he was 
just a little pleased; yet he kept one eye on 
father and soon’s he could walked back and 
lay down beside him. Father is dreadful good 
to Max, isn’t he? He often says he’d never 
have come back if it hadn’t been for — for us — ” 
For you, daughter. Mostly for you, it 
was, dear.” 

Well, Max helped. He staid right close 
and coaxing like. Oh! I do wish the Com- 
pany would give father another try.” 

“ It won’t. But I’m in hopes, after awhile, 
he’ll find something else to do. Meanwhile 
you stay close to him. Don’t give him a chance 
to get down-hearted again and — you know. 
Didn’t you say your Gray Gentleman was com- 
ing to the park to look at the ^ farms ’ this 
very day? Why, maybe, child, maybe he’d 
know of a job somewhere. You might ask 
him.” 

** Yes, I might. I will. What’s father go- 
ing to do now? he’s taken to the track.” 

“ He says that, though he has no work there, 
there isn’t any law forbids him sitting round. 


139 


By the Strength of Love 

watching his old friends who have. He likes 
to talk with men, you know; and if youVe 
handy by he’s quite satisfied. Father doesn’t 
like to go wrong any better than we like to 
have him. He trusts you to watch out for him, 
honey. So, if I were you, instead of taking 
the baby and going along the street to the 
gate I’d go to the park by the railroad. 
You can climb up the embankment at an 
easy place, and stay near father. Then you’d 
be able to see everything. The children in 
the ‘ Playgrounds, ’ and the Gray Gentleman 
if he goes to them, and Bonny-Gay’s train 
when it comes, and all. Only — only, Mary 
Jane — take care to give the cars plenty of 
room. ” 

Course I will. ' Look out for the cars 
when the bell rings ! ’ ” laughingly quoted the 
child. “ And you look out for the parrot when 
the crab-man comes ! I guess you’re right. I’d 
better not take the baby. If I climb up the bank 
I might let him slip. Good-by. I’ll make 
father all right and happy, don’t you fear.” 

The mother watched her darling out of sight, 
thinking how sunshiny and helpful she was, 
then settled the baby safely among his new 


140 


A Pair of Them 


playthings and resumed her endless toil. But 
she was wholly happy and contented now. They 
were poor, indeed, but they were not suffering, 
and her hopeful heart was sure that in some 
way a task would be found for her husband 
which would keep him out of idleness and 
evil company. She began her one hymn of 
cheerfulness : Lord, in the morning Thou 
shalt. Thou shalt. Lord, in the morning Thou 
shalt hear, my voice ascending high. 

Meanwhile, Mary Jane had hopped along the 
road till she came to a part of the railway em- 
bankment which she could climb, then scrambled 
to its top. Just before her the rails were laid 
over a long trestle above the deep bed of a 
stream, now almost dry. A little water still 
ran among the stones below but Mary Jane 
did not look down upon that. She made her 
way swiftly, yet cautiously, beside the track, 
pushed rapidly along the trestle, and reached her 
father’s side, at the further end of it. 

“ Here am I, father. I’m going to watch 
for the train from here. ” 

‘‘ All right, daughter. ” 

A fellow workman looked up and remon- 
strated : 


By the Strength of Love 14 1 

** You oughtn’t to let that girl walk that 
trestle, Bump. If her crutches slipped it — the 
bottom’s rough and deep down. ” 

Oh ! I’m not afraid. I don’t often, either, 
though I’ve played about this railroad ever 
since I was born. All the Dingy street children 
play there. How pretty the park looks, down 
yonder; ” interrupted Mary Jane, anxious that 
her father should not be blamed, especially for 
what was not his doing. 

“ That’s right. You oughtn’t, daughter,” 
he said. 

I won’t again, then, father, if you don’t 
like. But I was safe enough. What’s that 
team for, that’s coming? ” 

“ They’re going to haul off that pile of ties 
that have been taken up. Company gives ’em for 
the hauling. Only things it ever does give, too.” 

‘‘ They ought to work faster. See. They 
keep dropping them on the track. If a train 
should come by it would get thrown off. Don’t 
they know that ? ” 

'' Oh, they know it all right, but they’ll be 
in time. They’re used to it. ” 

It was in this very hardihood of custom that 
the danger lay. A beginner at such a task 


A Pair of Them 


142 

would have watched constantly for the approach 
of a train, but this “ gang ” did not. For the 
greater ease of handling they rolled the heap 
of heavy ties over upon the track, as the anxious 
girl had observed, and two men lifting leisurely 
placed the weighty, worn out timber upon the 
wagon. The mule team before the wagon stood 
half-over the edge of the embankment, heads 
dropped, themselves enjoying the rest regard- 
less of position. 

The men laughed and talked. William Bump 
joined in the chatter and forgot Mary Jane. 
The talk grew more interesting, to the speakers, 
and became a torture to the listening girl, 
though she paid no attention to the words. She 
realized, merely, that they were growing more 
and more indolent; the pile of ties upon the 
rails lessened very, very slowly. It was al- 
ready long past noon, she knew that. She was 
familiar enough with the running of trains to 
know, also, that the through express was the 
next one due. It was upon this through ex- 
press that Bonny-Gay would travel. She be- 
gan to feel cold with her anxiety. She must 
speak to those men, even if it should displease 
her father, who hated interference of that sort. 


By the Strength of Love 143 

So she moved forward a little way and 
touched the arm of the foreman. 

“ Will you tell me the time, please? 

“ Ten minutes to two, little girl. Pretty hot 
up here, isn’t it? ” he answered, good naturedly. 

“ Mary Jane, don’t meddle. Children should 
be seen not heard. ” 

Yes, father. Only ten minutes! Why, 
you’ve been ever and ever so long taking off less 
than half the ties. Can you finish in ten min- 
utes ? Can you ? ” she demanded, eagerly. 

“ Why, kid, what’s the hurry ? Got another 
job for us, eh ? ” 

“ The hurry ? The train. The two o’clock 
express. It’s almost due. ” 

The foreman’s face paled a trifle. Then he 
whistled. 

Whew, sis, you’re right ! Jim, lead that 
team off the bank. We’ll just roll the rest 
down to the bottom and drive round there to 
load up. Now, with a will ! there ain’t no time 
to spare I here she goes ! ” 

The mules were led away by one man while 
the others exerted themselves to clear the tracks 
in any and every manner possible. There was 
no longer any talking. There were no false 


144 


A Pair of Them 


movements. They knew that there was no way 
of signalling the express, just there, even if 
there should be need. But there must be no 
need, the tracks must be cleared. Must be ! 

William Bump moved down upon the bank 
and watching from an apparently safe place 
called upon Mary Jane to follow him. 

She did not hear him. She stood, resting 
upon her crutches, anxiously watching the toil- 
ers, straining forward, as if in that attitude she 
could help them, and listening — listening — with 
every nerve at tension. She did not see the 
Gray Gentleman, who had come into the park 
awhile before and having caught sight of his 
favorite's pink frock, crossed the level space 
from the “ Playgrounds " to the embankment to 
see what so interested her. As he reached the 
spot below the end of the trestle he, also, began 
to comprehend what was passing in Mary Jane's 
mind and his own cheek whitened. 

“ Hark ! It's coming — it's coming ! " cried 
the girl. ‘‘ Work— work ! " 

They did work with a will. There was no 
need for anybody to urge them. They, also, 
heard the low rumble of wheels along the dis- 
tant track, the shiver and tremble of the rails. 


By the Strength of Love 145 

The heavy ties rolled down — fast and faster. 
The way was almost clear. There was only one 
tie left and that — 

A man turned to look over his shoulder. 

The train ! The train ! It^s on us ! ” 

The whole gang leaped to safety and waited. 
The one big timber still lay crosswise above the 
trestle. It meant destruction. They knew it, 
Mary Jane knew it. They could not move ; but 
she could. That menacing log should not des- 
troy ! 

Ah! but those long, strong, useful arms of 
hers stood her in good stead just then. All the 
strength of her body was in them. The 
crutches went, she knew not where. She was 
lying flat, forcing, pushing, compelling that 
last tie down, over the edge. The train was al- 
most there. She knew that, also, but she felt no 
fear. She must do her task — she must — she 
could ! 

The men on the bank watched breathless, but 
not one went to her aid. Even William Bump 
seemed stricken to stone. 

There came a crash. The log was over — the 
track was clear ! 

But where was Mary Jane? 


146 


A Pair of Them 


As he rounded the curve just before the 
trestle the engineer had seen the child upon the 
track, but though he instantly reversed his en- 
gine the train could not be brought to a stand- 
still till it had quite crossed the openwork space, 
and he stepped down from it with horror in his 
heart. 

A horror which quickly changed to a shout of 
joy, though the peril was yet not over. 

Again these long, strong arms had done their 
owner good service. As the train came upon 
the trestle she slipped down and dropped be- 
tween the ties, clinging to one for her life. She 
scarcely heard now that rumble and roar above 
her ; all her consciousness was fixed in the clutch 
of her fingers upon that cross-beam. 

It was the Gray Gentleman who first reached 
the spot and prostrating himself upon the road- 
bed reached down to clasp her arms and draw 
her up to safety. 

You precious child! You heroine! ” 

She opened her eyes at that, gave him one 
radiant smile, and promptly fainted away. 


By the Strength of Love 147 

Which, she afterward declared, was a very fool- 
ish thing for a sensible girl to do. 

She as promptly revived, however, and there 
was Bonny-Gay hugging and thanking her, but ' 
not saying good-by, at all! And there was 
Mrs. McClure, that proud and dignified lady, 
snatching the crooked little figure from the 
Gray Gentleman's arms, to enfold it in her own 
and to weep and cry over it in the most aston- 
ishing fashion. 

“Oh! you darling, darling child! You’ve 
saved our lives, saved Bonny-Gay, who’s more 
than life to us. Little did I guess how noble 
you are. Nobler, Mary Jane, than anybody I 
ever knew. ” 

It was like a dream. The people, all the 
passengers and trainmen, crowding round to 
thank and bless the little hunchback, who now 
rested in her. own father’s arms, while he 
beamed upon her, proud and happy, but with 
soul-cleansing tears streaming down his soft- 
ened face. And there was Mr. McClure, lay- 
ing his hand kindly upon William Bump’s 
shoulder and begging: 

“ For any injustice I’ve done you, for any 
injustice you’ve done me, let this hour make 


148 A Pair of Them 

amends. As man to man — trust me, William 
Bump. ” 

Aye, Boss. I will, I will ” ; and the poor 
man looked into the face of the rich man and 
behold ! it was as that of a brother. 

“ What’s all this to-do ? ” cried Mrs. Steb- 
bins, to Mrs. Bump. The express has stopped 
and there’s a crowd of people coming this way.” 

“ I don’t know. I’m sure. I just heard the 
train go by. I hope nothing’s wrong. ” 

“ Not wrong, sure. The men are tossing 
their hats and cheering and the women — they’re 
laughing and talking like they’d struck a gold 
mine. They’re headed this way. ” 

But Mrs. Bump was too busy to look. She 
had a lot of clear-starching to do and she was 
engaged in a new, therefore interesting, task; 
she was teaching Polly to sing a hymn ! 

“ Yes, you smart bird. If you can talk crab- 
man’s talk, that always sounds sort of wicked, 
though, of course, it isn’t, you can learn better 
things just as easy. ” 

“ So I can, so I can. Tell the truth, tell the 
truth, tell the truth, ” answered Polly. 

Oh ! I’m telling it, never fear. Learn it 
you shall. Now begin — ” 


By the Strength of Love 149 

But the lesson was interrupted. The voices 
of the crowd were near at hand; were at the 
door; were in the very room! What did it 
mean? William was placing Mary Jane in her 
mother’s arms, as if she had been the baby him- 
self — helpful Mary Jane ! And Mrs. McClure 
was clasping Mrs. Bump’s neck, and sobbing 
and laughing on her shoulder. 

Everybody was talking at once, but suddenly 
somebody cleared a space and placed a chair 
behind the startled mistress of the house. She 
sank into it gratefully, her knees now trembling 
too much to support her. But the facts had 
penetrated to her consciousness, at last, and with 
a cry that hushed all speech of others, she held 
her precious “ Sunday bairn ” to her heart with 
a thankfulness beyond words. 

Suddenly, upon this sacred silence, there fell 
a voice which seemed neither bird nor human, 
yet strangely reverent and opportune: 

“Lord, in the morning Thou shalt, Thou shalt, 

Lord, in the morning Thou shalt hear 

My voice ascending high.” 

At this interruption there were some who 
wept — but none who smiled. 


CONCLUSION 

AFTERWARD 

Of course there was an afterward. There 
always is. 

The fallow fields of the McClure estate no 
longer lie idle under the blue sky, a reproach 
to their owner. The property was not quite of 
the miles and miles in extent which Bonny- 
Gay had imagined, but it was still sufficient 
to set apart a goodly number of acres as a 
home for Mary Jane, who had never known 
how beautiful the country was until she was 
driven one day, along a smooth road, under 
over-hanging trees, and over bridges crossing 
here and there the prettiest trout stream in the 
world. The drive was interrupted, “ to let the 
horses rest, ” where there was a fine view of a 
cottage, freshly painted in cream and white, 
and with the most inviting of piazzas extending 
from its sides. 


150 


Afterward 


151 

Mary Jane had been allowed to make a little 
visit at the home of Bonny-Gay, and had been 
absent from Dingy street for one whole week. 
This day her absence was to end, even with this 
day; and she thought it a little odd that Bon- 
ny-Gay should seem so extravagantly happy, 
as if she were glad that the visit were over. 
Though, of course, the guest knew better than 
that. There was not the slightest doubt in the 
heart of either Sunday bairn ” concerning 
their mutual love. 

“ Oh ! what a pretty house ! We haven’t 
come this way before, have we? Is it on the 
road to the station, Bonny-Gay? How happy 
the folks must be who live there. But I’m 
happy, too. Dingy street will seem perfectly 
lovely to me when I get there. Do you sup- 
pose the baby has grown much? I wonder if 
Polly has learned any new things. Mother’s 
a master hand to teach, mother is. She taught 
me my letters while she was working round. 
She thinks I can, maybe, be spared to go to 
school — sometime. How I want to see her. 
Seems as if I could hardly wait. ” 

“ Oh ! I’m so glad, so glad ! ” laughed Bon- 
ny-Gay, and even the old coachman’s face 


152 


A Pair of Them 


beamed with smiles, though in ordinary he felt 
that it was his business, when on duty, to con- 
duct himself like an automaton. 

I s’pose you’ll write to me, won’t you ? 
You promised, that other time, before you 
started, you know. ” 

No. I shall do no such thing. ” 

“ Bonny-Gay ! ” There was a volume of re- 
proach in the tones. 

“ No. Not a line. ” 

“ Whose house is this, do you suppose? ” 

I don’t ' suppose ’ when I know things. ” 
“Whose, then?” 

“ Let’s go ask. ” 

“ Why Beulah Standish McClure ! What 
would your mother say? If there’s anything 
she wants you to be it’s a lady. So I’ve heard 
her say, time and again. ” 

“ So have I. I’m tired of hearing it. I mean. 
I’m trying to be one. She wouldn’t care. She’d 
do it herself, if she were here. ” 

“ Never ! She never, never would be so rude.” 
Bonny-Gay made a funny little grimace, then 
leaned sidewise and hugged her friend. 

“ Do the Dingy street folks know better how 
to behave than the Place folks, missy ? ” 


Afterward 


153 

Yes, Bonny-Gay, I think thej do ; an- 
swered Mary Jane with dignity. For she had 
now been associated with the McClure house- 
hold long enough to get a fair idea of the pro- 
prieties; and she was sure that driving up to 
the doors of strange houses and inquiring their 
owners’ names, was not one. However, she 
could do nothing further, for it was Bonny- 
Gay’s carriage and not hers. 

“ Drive in, please. ” 

So the phaeton turned into the pretty drive- 
way, bordered with shrubs, and around the lawn 
by a freshly prepared curve to the very front 
door itself. Mary Jane had turned her head 
away and utterly refused to look. She was 
amazed at Bonny-Gay, her hitherto model, but 
she’d be a party to no such impertinence; not 
she. 

Then her head was suddenly seized by her 
mate’s hands and her face forced about toward 
that unknown doorway. 

“ Look, Mary Jane Bump! You shall look! 
You shall. If you don’t, you’ll break my heart. 
Look quick ! ” 

Mary Jane’s lids flew open. Then she nearly 
tumbled off the seat. The Gray Gentleman was 


A Pair of Them 


154 

coming down the steps, smiling and holding out 
his hand. Smiling and calling, too : 

They Ve come, Mrs. Bump ! They've 
come ! " Mary Jane, in her newly acquired 
ideas of etiquette, wondered to hear such a 
quiet person speak so loudly or jest upon such 
themes. She had instantly decided that this 
was some friend’s country house, where he, 
too, was visiting. Odd that his hostess’ name 
should be like her own. 

But all her primness vanished when out from 
that charming cottage flew a woman with a 
baby in her arms. A woman in a print gown, 
clear-starched as only one laundress could do 
it, and a baby so big and round and rosy he had 
to be spelled with a capital letter. 

“ Mother ! My mother and the Baby ! ” 

'‘Welcome home, my child! Welcome 
home!” 

And the Baby cooed and gurgled something 
that sounded very like " Ome, ” without an 
H. 

" Has everybody gone crazy ? ” 

" Not quite! ” answered William Bump, ap- 
pearing from another corner. He was as 
washed and starched as his wife, and had done 


Afterward 


155 


for himself even something more, in honor of 
this great occasion — he was smoothly shaved. 
He looked years younger than his child had 
ever seen him and oh! how much happier and 
more self-respectful. He had found his right 
place again. He was once more a tiller of the 
soil; and there is nothing so conducive to true 
manliness as finding one’s congenial task and 
feeling the ability to accomplish it. 

Mary Jane’s head buzzed with the strange- 
ness and wonder and delight of it all. Yet the 
explanation was very simple and sensible. 

It was impossible but that the McClures 
should do something to evince their gratitude to 
the little saver of their child’s and their own 
lives and they did that which they knew would 
be most acceptable to her; they gave her this 
home in the country. 

For the house, with its deed was made to 
Mary Jane Bump, herself; but over the wide 
fields surrounding it her father was made over- 
seer and farmer, for his old “ Boss, ” at good 
but not extravagant wages. The house had 
long stood empty, ever since the railroad mag- 
nate had dropped his former scheme of agri- 
culture on a big scale, but it was in good repair 


A Pair of Them 


156 

and quite large enough to accommodate even 
the household of Bump. A coat of paint made 
it like new and during the cripple's absence from 
Dingy street the flitting was accomplished. 

Bonny-Gay's own summer home was near 
at hand, though she had driven Mary Jane to 
the cottage by such a roundabout way ; and her 
delight had lain in her knowledge of the hap- 
piness that was coming to her friend. 

This was a year ago. As yet no cloud has 
marred the perfect sunshine of Mary Jane's new 
life. She now rides to school in a smart little 
cart, drawn by the sedatest of piebald ponies. 
She is apt and ambitious and is learning fast. 
Indeed, she is confidently looking forward to a 
day in the future when, being both old and wise 
enough, she shall be matriculated at a certain 
famous woman's college; to don the cap and 
gown whose ample folds shall hide, at last, her 
physical deformity. God speed you, Mary 
Jane ! and all your happy sisterhood ! 


THE END 


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